Chapter 72: Obtaining the Dual-Mind Inner Art (1)

“Are you the Young Master of the Heavenly Central Sect?”

Yong Hwarin said nothing as he looked at Chouhui, who kept trying to surprise him.

“How did you know?”

“I recognized it from the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword you displayed at the end.”

“My clan isn’t that well known. How do you know our sword technique?”

Yong Hwarin asked, sensing something suspicious.

“I had already heard rumors that the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword was a signature technique of the Heavenly Central Sect. Also, Uncle Fan here once said he fought someone from your sect long ago. That confirms it, doesn’t it?”

It turned out that Fan Yegok had recognized the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword and told Chouhui about it.

“It was a moment where I realized that the stories about the Soaring Dragon Sword Hero that have been spreading lately weren’t exaggerated—in fact, they were understated.”

Chouhui, who had never imagined someone her age could defeat her, had her arrogance dampened after losing to Yong Hwarin.

Despite her praise and attempts to elevate him, Yong Hwarin showed not a hint of pride.

The more she looked, the clearer it was—he had the composure of someone far beyond his years.

That made Chouhui, feeling slightly deflated, speak up.

“Shall we get to the main point now?”

Yong Hwarin, who hadn’t smiled even during the compliments, gave a faint smile at those words, and Chouhui realized that he truly wanted something.

That only made her even more curious about what it was that he desired.

Chouhui glanced at her maid Ihwa and Fan Yegok.

“Please leave us.”

At her words, Fan Yegok didn’t move.

He had never once left her side until now.

“Uncle Fan, are you trying to make me a woman who doesn’t even know her own promises?”

Fan Yegok bit his lip hard before finally withdrawing.

He looked like he hated leaving more than death itself.

Chouhui had expected that a moment like this would come eventually, but she hadn’t thought it would arrive so soon.

Many masters greater than Yong Hwarin had challenged her, but they had all failed and turned back at the Five Dream Hall.

Seeing that, she’d begun to think maybe the Five Dream Hall would remain undefeated forever. After all, the whole point of it was to be an impossible challenge.

“If you tell me one thing you want from me, I’ll grant it.”

Yong Hwarin spoke directly.

“Even if what I want is to spend a night with you?”

It was something she asked out of curiosity, wondering how he would react.

“Of course. When I said anything, I included myself in that as well.”

As Chouhui’s eyes briefly flickered before regaining composure, Yong Hwarin felt admiration.

‘Most women would be flustered in this situation, but she’s clearly no ordinary woman.’

He himself had the mental maturity of fifty years, so he could remain calm in any situation, but it was difficult for the young to do the same.

Achieving such composure required painful training and a genius-level mind. That’s why when young people showed calm or great patience, Yong Hwarin found it intimidating.

“If there’s something you want, please tell me.”

Now that she’d spoken, Chouhui’s heart began to pound.

The longer he stayed silent, the more curious she became about what he would ask for.

‘Will he ask to spend a night with me?’

But oddly enough, if that wasn’t what he asked for, she thought she might be disappointed.

Meanwhile, Yong Hwarin was deep in thought, wondering how to ask for the martial art without raising suspicion.

‘If I bluntly ask for the Dual-Mind Inner Art, she might become suspicious about how I even know it, and not hand it over. I still don’t understand what kind of significance that technique holds for her.’

He decided to approach the matter carefully.

“Lady Cho, please don’t take this the wrong way. I wish to learn the martial art you used in the Five Dream Hall.”

Chouhui was genuinely surprised—it was an answer she hadn’t expected. She was grateful for the veil hiding her expression.

“A martial art?”

“Yes, the one that allows you to use your left and right hands independently. May I ask the name of that technique?”

“It’s called the Dual-Mind Inner Art.”

‘So it really was the Dual-Mind Inner Art.’

“Why ask for a martial art, of all things? Are you mocking me?”

She wondered if he’d mentioned a martial art as a clever way out.

Yong Hwarin had long ago learned the lesson that wounding a woman’s pride would ruin everything.

A man’s pride called for battle, but a woman’s pride called for grudges.

“I came here after hearing the rumors about you, Lady Cho, to see for myself. To be honest, I had initially intended to spend the night with you. But after meeting you, I realized you were not someone I could even dare to approach. I decided that rather than pluck a beautiful flower and end its beauty, it would be better to treasure it and enjoy its beauty for a long time. That is why I now ask for your martial art instead.”

Indeed, Chouhui’s anger seemed to settle at Yong Hwarin’s words. What woman wouldn’t appreciate being praised by someone who surpassed her?

And she was secretly touched by what he said.

Until now, Yong Hwarin hadn’t been one for many words. That made Chouhui believe even more that he never spoke in vain. She trusted his words.

It was only natural that Chouhui couldn’t handle someone like Yong Hwarin, who had been through countless trials and tribulations.

“Could you not ask for something else other than martial arts? From what I saw, you seemed to be practicing a martial art similar to mine, so what use would mine be to you?”

In truth, Chouhui was saying something quite unexpected.

The fact that what he wanted wasn’t her, but a martial art, stirred an inexplicable surge of emotion in her.

Even if, as Yong Hwarin said, it was to preserve her beauty, the feeling was the same.

“There is nothing else I wish for.”

To Chouhui, the Dual-Mind Inner Art was simply one of many martial arts she knew. Although it was rare, it wasn’t something impossible to find.

Seeing that Yong Hwarin was firm in his intent, Chouhui nodded.

“Very well. If that is truly your wish.”

She briefly stepped outside and returned with a booklet.

“This is it.”

Yong Hwarin received the booklet titled Dual-Mind Inner Art.

To avoid revealing his excitement, Yong Hwarin tucked it into his robe without even skimming through it, maintaining a composed expression.

“Whether I end up learning it or not, I’ll treasure it as a memory of you, Lady Cho.”

Just as he looked ready to leave, Chouhui spoke.

“You’re going just like that?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt a frustrating sense of vulnerability, as if she were clinging to him.

Seeing Yong Hwarin act like someone who had finished his business, Chouhui felt a strong sense of regret.

But it was the truth. Yong Hwarin had no further desires regarding her. He had already gotten what he came for and had no reason to linger.

Besides, he considered desiring a night with her now to be shameful.

Sensing that he might leave at any moment, Chouhui realized she needed to use the Dual-Mind Inner Art to keep his interest and stay by her side even a little longer.

“I will explain the essence of the Dual-Mind Inner Formula to you. It feels wrong to hand over the martial art without something more. After all, the golden badge I issued is worth that much.”

Seeing herself making excuses made Chouhui flustered.

She had never made excuses or explanations to any man before.

Yong Hwarin cupped his fists and said,

“I am grateful for your kindness, Lady Cho.”

He politely bowed and sat down again.

Now sitting across from each other, sipping tea, Yong Hwarin found himself curious about her face.

“If I may have one more request, would you grant it?”

“Hahaha, now you’re starting to feel like you’ve been short-changed, aren’t you?”

Chouhui was laughing, but her heart was racing.

“What is it? Let me hear it first before I decide. It is only proper to respect someone who passed through the Five Dream Hall.”

She thought it was pathetic how she kept making excuses.

“Would you remove your veil?”

Chouhui’s veil wasn’t just any ordinary veil. Made from silkworm thread, no matter how much one tried to pierce it with vision techniques, only a vague outline of her could be seen—her face remained concealed.

After a brief pause, Chouhui lifted the veil with her hand. She answered with action rather than words.

Her unveiled face was so beautiful that even the word ‘beautiful’ seemed insufficient.

However, Yong Hwarin looked at her with a calm gaze that didn’t match his age.

Having lived a past life and seen countless women deemed beauties, he wasn’t particularly moved by Chouhui’s looks.

Even with those thoughts, Yong Hwarin knew this was the time for polite words. This was when clever words and pleasing expressions were needed.

“Truly, the rumors of you being the most beautiful woman in Henan are not false. Of all the women I’ve seen, you are the most beautiful.”

But his true thoughts were different.

‘Still, she’s not beautiful enough for me to have paid ten gold ingots for a golden badge.’

Only then did Chouhui smile at his compliment.

Smiling like that, Chouhui truly resembled the legendary beauty Yuhee, beloved by Xiang Yu, just as her name implied.

Above all, it was her clear, white skin that made her so striking. Her flawless complexion made one doubt whether she was even of this world.

With her small face, large eyes, and well-defined features, calling her the most beautiful woman in Henan was no exaggeration.

Yong Hwarin was more impressed by her skin and facial structure than her overall looks.

‘I liked women with porcelain-like skin even when I got older. That’s how people change with age.’

Chouhui felt genuinely happy seeing Yong Hwarin smile at her.

That pure gaze, free of lust, somehow tugged at her heart.

But Yong Hwarin did not allow even the slightest opening for such feelings.

“If you’re going so far as to explain the essence of the Dual-Mind Inner Formula, I assume there’s something to be cautious about?”

With that, he cut off any budding romantic feelings by immediately returning to the topic of martial arts.

Chouhui let out a bitter smile and began to speak.

“Yes. At a glance, the Dual-Mind Inner Formula seems easy to learn. But it contains such profound mysteries that, if done wrong, it can cause severe internal injuries. Unlike other split-mind techniques, this one separates entirely different types of energy. Whether it’s the left or right, the user must split and move different energies—applying Fiery Yang Skill to one side and Icy Yin Skill to the other. That is what makes it distinct from other split-mind techniques. For example, the most well-known split-mind technique, Dual Will Technique, merely divides intent and will—it cannot operate martial arts of different properties simultaneously. The Dual-Mind Inner Formula is on a whole different level. If you try to learn it like the Dual Will Technique, it could be disastrous.”

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