Chapter 215

When Pyo Wol opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the ceiling of a shabby Thatched Hut.

Sunlight was seeping through the cracks in the ceiling.

Pyo Wol started to sit up, then frowned.

It was because of the filth on his clothes.

A yellowish liquid had dried on his clothes.

‘What is this?’

He had no memory of last night.

He remembered talking to Ilgeom Jin-in, but he couldn’t recall anything that happened after that.

‘I let my guard down.’

Pyo Wol blamed himself for being so defenseless.

If an enemy had been targeting him, he would already be a dead man.

Not once since entering Jianghu had he been so defenseless.

But surprisingly, he didn’t feel bad.

Pyo Wol found the reason in his body’s condition.

His body felt strangely light.

It was lighter than usual and brimming with vitality.

‘What in the world?’

It was the first time he had felt this way since making his debut in Jianghu.

His condition was so good that it almost felt like it wasn’t his own body.

‘Was it… because of that alcohol?’

If Pyo Wol had any deviation from his norm, it was the alcohol he drank last night.

It was clear that the alcohol had caused some change in his body.

Pyo Wol began Qi Circulation on the spot.

Shwaaa!

As soon as he began Qi Circulation, he felt a fierce flow of Qi.

It was incomparably faster than before, with no blockages whatsoever.

He had circulated the Thunderbolt Soul Severing Mind Method thousands, tens of thousands of times, but this was the first time in his life he had felt anything like this.

A sense of exhilaration washed over him, as if he could do anything he set his mind to.

Pyo Wol completed one full cycle in an instant.

It was a speed incomparable to before.

‘This is insane!’

That was Pyo Wol’s honest thought.

He realized he had obtained a great miraculous encounter.

The one who had given him this miraculous encounter must be Ilgeom Jin-in. The secret was undoubtedly in the alcohol he had made him drink.

He didn’t know why Ilgeom Jin-in had shown him such favor, but it was clear that he was now in his debt.

Pyo Wol looked around the room.

Soma, who should have been on the bed, was nowhere to be seen.

Pyo Wol picked up his Dark Dragon Robe and went outside.

“You’re out?”

Ilgeom Jin-in greeted him with a smile.

But his face looked as if it had aged at least ten years.

Pyo Wol asked.

“Why did you grant me such a favor?”

“What are you talking about?”

“That alcohol.”

“What, did the alcohol taste bad? You damn bastard! After chugging it all down…”

“That’s not it…”

“If you enjoyed it, the best thing for the one who gave it to you is to just shut up.”

“But…”

“I’m telling you to shut that mouth.”

“…”

Pyo Wol closed his mouth. Ilgeom Jin-in then grinned again.

“It’s a bit better when you’re quiet. Why the hell do you sleep so long?”

“…”

“What’s this? Are you rebelling? Why aren’t you answering?”

“Didn’t you tell me to shut my mouth?”

“You petty bastard! Forget it. Seeing you talk back so precisely, I guess I don’t need to worry about you.”

“I will not forget this kindness.”

“Kindness, my ass! What kindness is there in giving away alcohol I don’t drink… Forget it, let’s just eat.”

On a shabby flat bench in front of the Thatched Hut, a meal was set.

As for side dishes, there were only some seasoned vegetables that Ilgeom Jin-in had made himself. But there was only one rice bowl.

“Are you not eating, True Person?”

“It’s been a while since I’ve eaten rice. This is enough for me.”

What Ilgeom Jin-in took out from his sleeve was a grain-abstinence pill the size of a walnut.

He popped the pill into his mouth and grinned.

“I will eat well.”

“Scrape it clean and don’t leave a single grain of rice. You’ll be punished by heaven if you waste food.”

“Is that so?”

“For you to casually eat a single grain of rice, a farmer has likely shed beads of sweat all year long. Taking a life is instantaneous, but nurturing it requires such immense time and effort.”

“…”

“Never forget that fact. That will be enough.”

Ilgeom Jin-in looked at Pyo Wol with a benevolent smile.

In that moment, something surged up from deep within Pyo Wol’s heart.

To hide his wavering expression, Pyo Wol bowed his head and focused only on his meal.

The vegetables Ilgeom Jin-in had made himself were bland, with almost no seasoning. But to Pyo Wol, they tasted more delicious than any delicacy made by any master chef.

Just as Ilgeom Jin-in had said, Pyo Wol ate all the rice and side dishes, not leaving a single grain.

Ilgeom Jin-in pointed to the back of the Thatched Hut.

“You can do the dishes over there.”

A small stream was flowing behind the Thatched Hut.

“Yes!”

Pyo Wol stood up with his reply.

He carried the dining table to the stream.

The small stream was incredibly clear. Pyo Wol took a quick drink of water and then washed the dishes.

Ever since meeting Ilgeom Jin-in, he had been constantly swayed by him.

It was the first time since becoming an assassin for the Bloody Shadows Guild that Pyo Wol had been so ceaselessly swayed by another person. But he didn’t feel bad.

Pyo Wol rolled up his sleeves, washed the dishes, and while he was at it, washed his body and clothes as well.

“Hoo!”

When Pyo Wol emerged from the stream and circulated his Internal Energy, all the moisture on his body and clothes evaporated completely.

Returning to the front of the Thatched Hut, what caught Pyo Wol’s eye was the back of Ilgeom Jin-in as he looked down upon All Under Heaven.

The stooped old Taoist stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing down at the world below the mountain.

Without realizing it, Pyo Wol approached Ilgeom Jin-in’s side. And he looked where Ilgeom Jin-in’s gaze was directed.

A vast sea of clouds, Woon-hae, came into view.

The Woon-hae, which coiled around the peaks rising here and there on Mount Wudang, was so expansive that its end could not be seen.

When the wind blew, the Woon-hae undulated like waves.

It seemed to scatter as it hit the peaks, only to swirl around and gather again; it seemed to tremble in the wind, only to become calm again as if nothing had happened.

Its ever-changing yet unchanging nature created a strange ripple in Pyo Wol’s heart.

The ripple brought about a change in his thoughts, and the change in his thoughts induced a change in his body.

Zzit! Zzit!

It felt as if Thunder and Lightning were racing through his blood vessels.

His entire body tingled.

It was not an illusion.

The core of the Thunderbolt Soul Severing Mind Method, the foundation of the Hungry Ghost Path, was Lightning power.

By using Lightning power to dramatically increase nerve response, it made possible feats that others could not even dare to imagine.

The uncontrolled Lightning power was madly stimulating his nerves.

To handle the Lightning power, his nerves were becoming thicker. But there was a limit to the Lightning power a human could endure.

Just as Pyo Wol’s nerves could no longer bear it and were about to burn out, a strange heat rose from his lower abdomen and gently enveloped his nerves.

It was a Qi that had not been there before.

The sacred Qi contained in the pine pollen wine he had drunk last night had reacted to the internal stimulus.

Zzit! Zzit!

The Lightning power stimulated his nerves even more intensely. In response, the Qi from the pine pollen wine developed his nerves, making them larger and stronger.

A veritable war was taking place inside Pyo Wol’s body. But just by looking at his outward appearance, one could not tell what changes were occurring.

At that moment, Ilgeom Jin-in, who was beside him, turned his head and looked at him.

A satisfied smile appeared on Ilgeom Jin-in’s wrinkled face.

“Some people can’t attain enlightenment even if you hold their hand and teach them their whole lives, yet some bastard can just fling the door open with a single glance. Tsk, tsk! This is why the world is unfair.”

Ilgeom Jin-in patted his lower back and sat on the flat bench. Then he looked at Pyo Wol.

For a long time, Pyo Wol stood like a stone statue, gazing at the Woon-hae.

Ilgeom Jin-in couldn’t know exactly what changes had occurred in him. But he was certain that the enlightenment, or change, he had gained here would allow him to develop one step further.

It was a long while later that Pyo Wol emerged from his own world.

“Hoo!”

Pyo Wol let out a low sigh and blinked his eyes.

After a moment, having come to his senses, he made a Fist-Palm Salute to Ilgeom Jin-in.

“Thank you for the grace you have bestowed. How can I ever repay this kindness…”

“Kindness, my ass! You’re the one who gained enlightenment, so why are you talking to me about kindness? If you’ve come to your senses, then get lost and go down. This old man needs to rest now.”

“Yes!”

“Oh, and leave that little Hungry Ghost behind.”

“Pardon?”

Pyo Wol’s eyes widened at the unexpected words.

“He’s learned the Great Method from the Small Thunder Sound Temple and even the Reverse Gwaneum Demonic Art. It’s a wonder he’s still alive. He might be holding on for now, but as time passes, he’ll surely go mad and destroy himself. That kid needs to learn how to control himself.”

“So he’ll become a Taoist?”

“Kekeke! Do you think just anyone can become a Taoist? It all requires a karmic connection. For now, I’ll keep him with me and start by teaching him how to control his mind. Whether he becomes a Taoist or not is something he’ll decide for himself later.”

“Why are you so concerned with us?”

“It’s not because of you two.”

“Then?”

“You’ll understand when you live to be my age. There are things you see even when you don’t want to. You start to see things others can’t, and when that happens, worries pile up. That’s why I’ve become a meddler.”

“…”

“Don’t try to understand. Just accept it. What will you do?”

Pyo Wol looked straight into Ilgeom Jin-in’s wrinkled face.

Unlike his wrinkled face, his eyes were as clear as a child’s.

Before those eyes, Pyo Wol could not be stubborn.

“I understand.”

“Kekeke! A wise decision.”

“Before I leave, may I not see his face one last time?”

“Why leave behind lingering attachments? You’ll meet again when the time comes, so just go down for now.”

“I understand.”

Pyo Wol nodded his head.

He believed Ilgeom Jin-in’s words.

Pyo Wol, who never easily trusted others, found Ilgeom Jin-in’s words trustworthy.

Ilgeom Jin-in turned his back.

To Pyo Wol’s eyes, that small back looked larger than Mount Wudang.

Pyo Wol made a Fist-Palm Salute to Ilgeom Jin-in and then descended the rocky peak.

Even after his figure disappeared, Ilgeom Jin-in did not move for a while.

He moved again only when someone appeared, parting the bushes.

With a rustling sound, another old Taoist approached him, holding Soma in his arms.

The old Taoist, who exuded a transcendent aura like a celestial being, was none other than the Sect Master of the Wudang Sect, Cheongjin Jin-in.

Cheongjin Jin-in glanced around the rocky peak and opened his mouth.

“Has he gone?”

“He’s gone, that’s why I’m alone.”

“I suppose I asked a foolish question.”

“How is it that you become more and more sly as you age?”

“Isn’t it all something I learned from you, Martial Uncle?”

“You rotten bastard!”

“Really, I’m disappointed.”

“What now?”

Ilgeom Jin-in glared at Cheongjin Jin-in. Even while receiving that fierce gaze, Cheongjin Jin-in replied calmly.

“The pine pollen wine. I begged you for just one sip, but you gave it all to him, didn’t you?”

“Hmph! You wouldn’t even feel the effects if you drank it, so why waste it? I gave it to him because he was worth it. Treasures always have their destined owners. You were not the one, and he was worthy. That’s all.”

“Is he that remarkable?”

“More than you can imagine. He’s a fellow who knows how to create something from nothing.”

“Why couldn’t our Sect take in such a person sooner?”

“Hmph! What can you expect from a bunch of rigid old fools? Even if that child had come to the Wudang Sect on his own, they would have refused him for the sole reason that his killing intent was too strong.”

“Sigh! I suppose so. The Wudang Sect has become that rigid.”

“Hmph! You talk as if you’re any different.”

Even at Ilgeom Jin-in’s sarcastic words, Cheongjin Jin-in’s expression did not change one bit.

“I would have been the same. Still, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve developed a better eye, so I don’t make rash mistakes like I used to.”

“That’s a relief.”

“By the way, does this mean this child will become my Junior Martial Brother?”

Cheongjin Jin-in looked down at Soma in his arms.

Ilgeom Jin-in snorted.

“Hmph! Junior Martial Brother? You’d be the one to raise a fuss, saying it would mess up the lineage. This has nothing to do with the Wudang Sect; I’m just teaching him a few things, so don’t get greedy.”

Cheongjin Jin-in smiled bitterly.

One of the problems of a Sect with a long history like the Wudang Sect was that it was difficult to expect any deviation from the norm.

Countless practices and traditions had solidified, creating an iron fortress of their own. Because of that, even the Sect Master, Cheongjin Jin-in, found it difficult to make unconventional decisions.

Ilgeom Jin-in looked at Soma and continued.

“That child is a monster, the likes of which are rarely seen in All Under Heaven. He’s a child who shouldn’t exist in this world. The fact that he does exist means the flow of Heavenly Opportunity has been twisted.”

“Then is he a monster too?”

“He is something beyond a monster.”

“Pardon?”