Chapter 180

Chapter 180: Chapter 2. The Wind of Chaos Blows from the North (2)

"You know me?"

At Dam Ho's question, Myeong-cheon smiled enigmatically.

His black eyes sparkled with every wisdom in the world. For the eyes of such a young boy, they were far too deep and profound.

"Hero Dam is more famous than you might think. And also…"

Myeong-cheon's gaze dropped to Dam Ho's leg.

In that brief moment, he had discerned that Dam Ho was limping.

Dam Ho's gaze sank deeper.

The boy's expression, speech, and eyes that seemed to see through a person's heart—all of it was strangely unsettling.

Myeong-cheon was a genius. A prodigy who, upon hearing one thing, understood a hundred. He was one who truly existed perhaps once in a century.

Such genius was exceedingly rare. He could only be described as a gift from heaven itself.

But unlike his brilliant mind, his body was terribly frail. The hours he could spend awake in a single day amounted to barely two shishin. Any longer and his heart meridian would be strained, causing him to cough blood from all seven orifices.

Heaven had granted him a mind that could dominate the era, but not a body to support it.

That was why those who knew Myeong-cheon called him the genius who never wakes.

His only hope was Jong Ri-yeon.

Myeong-cheon smiled.

"That's a relief. You kept your promise, sister. I was starting to reach my limit."

"I told you, didn't I? That I would definitely cure you."

"Thank you."

"But in return, you must keep the promise you made to me."

"Of course."

At Myeong-cheon's answer, Jong Ri-yeon also smiled.

Dam Ho noticed that the bond between the two had existed for quite some time.

"When do you plan to begin treatment?"

"Right away!"

"That quickly?"

"It's better to strike while the iron is hot."

"Well, I'm grateful. This is the moment I've been waiting for."

Jong Ri-yeon looked at Dam Ho.

"Thank you for bringing me this far."

"It was a promise."

"Many people in the world make promises carelessly, but few actually keep them. In that regard, you are truly a special person."

"I didn't bring you here to hear embarrassing words."

"I know. But thank you anyway."

Jong Ri-yeon gave a profound smile.

Dam Ho looked at her for a moment, then turned.

"I'll step outside."

"I'll show you to your room."

The old man led Dam Ho to his quarters.

Watching Dam Ho's retreating figure, Myeong-cheon murmured.

"He's a gentleman who's quite shy, isn't he?"

"He has that side to him."

"He reminds me of our eldest brother, somewhat."

"You have a brother?"

"Didn't you know? I have several older brothers and one older sister above me."

"Why didn't I know?"

"Because I never told you."

"Hmm?"

"Ha ha ha!"

Myeong-cheon laughed heartily. But it was brief—soon his face turned deathly pale.

Laughing so hard after a long time had caused pain in his heart meridian. Blood trickled from his nose. It was truly a cursed body.

'But it's all right! Now I can finally be of help to my brother.'

This was the moment he had waited for his entire life.

For this day, his brother had formed a connection with Jong Ri-yeon's master and provided support in every way possible. And after more than a decade, his efforts had finally borne fruit.

He had waited so long.

When she was on the island in Nanwan Lake, the thing that occupied Jong Ri-yeon's mind most was Myeong-cheon's treatment method. Her master had laid the foundation, but the treatment was incomplete.

She had desperately researched ways to improve the treatment, and in the end, she had been able to perfect her master's insights.

"Don't make it hurt, sister."

"Don't be ridiculous. I'll be using the largest needle, so it will hurt terribly."

"That sounds frightening."

"You sound like an old man."

"Heh heh!"

Myeong-cheon chuckled.

Seeing this, Jong Ri-yeon shook her head.

She had come to know Myeong-cheon through a connection from a previous generation. But she didn't know all that much about him. That was why his old-man-like demeanor was hard to get used to.

"Let's go in. It will be a long night. And it will be very painful."

"Yes!"

Myeong-cheon answered vigorously.

The two walked in side by side.

The moment Myeong-cheon entered the room, he stripped off everything except his undergarments. His body, so emaciated that his bones were visible, came into Jong Ri-yeon's view.

A look of sorrow crossed Jong Ri-yeon's face.

"I told you to eat more."

"No matter how much I eat, I don't gain weight."

Myeong-cheon smiled sadly. That expression made Jong Ri-yeon's heart ache even more.

"Let's begin."

"Yes!"

"It will hurt a lot."

"I'm prepared."

Myeong-cheon clenched his teeth.

Jong Ri-yeon nodded and produced her needles.

"Phew!"

After taking a deep breath, Jong Ri-yeon began her acupuncture.

***

The old man led Dam Ho to the most remote room.

"Please rest here."

"Mm."

"Thank you. For bringing the Divine Physician safely here."

"…"

"Thanks to you, the Young Master may live. I will never forget this kindness."

"You've known Myeong-cheon for a long time, it seems."

"I've been by his side since the moment he was born. He's no different from my own child."

"Is that so? He's fortunate."

"Hmm?"

"To have the devoted care of such a strong martial artist as you."

"…"

In that instant, the old man's expression stiffened. But the awkward look vanished in an instant, replaced by a relaxed smile.

"I don't know what you mean."

"…"

"I'll take my leave now. Please rest comfortably."

The old man hurriedly went outside.

Left alone, Dam Ho murmured quietly.

"Everyone has their secrets."

Dam Ho crossed his arms and gazed out the window.

It was a residence of a rather unique style. The northern courtyard house form blocked outside views, with all spaces opening toward the central courtyard.

In contrast, the room assigned to Dam Ho had its view of the courtyard blocked, while a small window allowed him to survey the distance.

He could see outside, but from within, he had no way of knowing what was happening inside. The space had been intentionally arranged this way.

He could see darkness descending upon the streets.

At that moment, a faint flow of internal power was felt from deeper within the residence. It seemed Jong Ri-yeon had begun treatment.

Dam Ho leaned against the wall and closed his eyes.

Countless thoughts drifted past.

Dam Ho did not try to control his thoughts. He observed the process as they branched outward and grew in size on their own.

Self-Observation.

By looking inward, one could accurately grasp one's own existence.

This was the training method he had realized during the previous winter on the island.

By observing oneself with cold rationality, one could clearly identify one's limits. No emotion was involved.

Like wielding a blade, he drew a line, clearly distinguishing what he could do from what he could not.

By repeating this series of training, one could maintain a razor-sharp rationality in any situation.

It was a training method that allowed for the most efficient self-improvement in this common household, without concern for the eyes of others.

Time flowed endlessly.

Senses that had been focused inward now turned outward.

One zhang, two zhang… His senses expanded without limit, and in the end, the entire residence lay within the domain of his perception.

Though countless walls stood in the way, none could block his senses.

Different breathing patterns could be felt.

One deep yet unceasing breath.

It was the breath of the old man who had guided Dam Ho.

'Turtle.'

Dam Ho imagined a giant sea turtle diving into the deep ocean from the old man's breathing. A single breath that could carry one dozens or even hundreds of li—a tremendous internal power like that of a great turtle.

Another breath was detected by Dam Ho's senses.

Stable and unchanging, this breath belonged to Jong Ri-yeon. She possessed only enough internal power to assist in her medical practice.

Dam Ho's senses detected yet another person.

The breath was so faint it seemed it might break at any moment—this was Myeong-cheon.

The breath that was so weak it was a miracle he was alive trembled violently each time Jong Ri-yeon inserted a needle.

From Myeong-cheon's breath, Dam Ho imagined a carp in a drought-stricken pond. The water level had dropped so low the carp's body was nearly exposed, with only its gills still submerged as it gasped for air.

If the water level dropped further, the carp would surely die.

Jong Ri-yeon's acupuncture was replenishing water into that carp's pond. Whatever the principle, that was how it felt to Dam Ho.

Water was slowly flowing into Myeong-cheon's pond. The large carp, which had been barely breathing, was gradually regaining vitality.

There were also crises.

The incoming water flow was blocked and gradually diminished, while a drainage hole burst, sending the carefully collected water gushing out.

Jong Ri-yeon's hands moved more urgently.

Her previously steady breathing quickened, and sweat poured ceaselessly from her brow.

Whether her efforts bore fruit, the outflowing stream diminished and the incoming stream increased. The dried-up pond began to fill with water once more.

Jong Ri-yeon moved her hands busily.

She reinforced the precarious pond walls and widened the incoming channels. The entire process demanded extreme mental concentration.

Jong Ri-yeon accomplished all of it superbly.

Myeong-cheon's pond was filling. The water, which had reached his back, continued to rise without stopping. The great pond became full.

The carp gained its freedom, swimming freely through the water as if it had never struggled for breath. But the pond was too narrow for the carp to swim freely.

The carp desired a larger pond. And Jong Ri-yeon made the pond even bigger for the carp.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

The water formed a river and poured into the pond.

The pond had expanded to the point where it could no longer be called a pond. The pond became a lake, and the carp felt no more constriction.

The carp decided to shed its physical form to gain greater freedom. The scales that covered its body fell away one by one, revealing its bare form.

With the constraining scales gone, its body undulated and rippled. Its body elongated and expanded. A snout protruded, and teeth grew. Two whiskers lengthened greatly, and new scales sprouted on its smooth body. And two pairs of legs appeared.

The carp became a dragon.

The dragon rose into the sky.

Dam Ho observed every moment of this vision.

In reality, at that very moment, Myeong-cheon was shedding the cursed heaven-sent affliction that had dominated him and being reborn.

With the sound of cracking bones, everything shifted to its optimal position, and old skin peeled away. New flesh grew, and muscles formed on his previously emaciated body.

"Re…Rebirth and Bone Replacement?"

Jong Ri-yeon cried out in shock.

Her acupuncture had been meant to treat Myeong-cheon's illness. There was no miraculous function to trigger Rebirth and Bone Replacement.

"This…this isn't from my acupuncture. What on earth…"

Someone had arranged something within Myeong-cheon's body. Jong Ri-yeon's acupuncture had served as the catalyst to awaken it.

Not knowing what was happening, Jong Ri-yeon could only gape at the phenomenon unfolding before her eyes.

Dam Ho expanded the domain of his senses.

In that instant, something that had previously gone undetected was caught by his perception.

A presence as massive and solid as a mountain.

Dam Ho's eyebrow twitched.

The moment Dam Ho became aware of him, he too became aware of Dam Ho.

HUMMM!

In that instant, a resonance occurred.

The resonance spread far and wide, and within it, Dam Ho heard a voice calling his name.

Dam Ho's gaze deepened.

He launched himself through the open window and landed on the roof of the building opposite.

On the roof, there was another visitor besides himself.

A giant of a man standing seven chi tall, with a simple, honest face that belied his massive frame. But even in the darkness, his eyes gleamed like oil lamps.

At his waist hung a massive saber wrapped in coarse cloth.

HUMMM!

When they faced each other, the resonance between them intensified uncontrollably.

Resonance occurred only when two beings of equal magnitude met. This meant that the opponent before him possessed a presence as vast and powerful as his own.

The air between the two men grew hot.

The man spoke first.

"So we meet at last, Fist Demon."

"And you are?"

"My name is Geom Yul-cheon."

The man, Geom Yul-cheon, smiled.