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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Of All Things, a Heavenly Martial Body
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The three of them helped Mujin, who had been rolling on the floor, into a sitting position and examined him.
"Nngghh..."
Seeing his face drenched in a cold sweat, Masok looked up at the two old men.
"Elders!"
At Masok's urging, Elder Jo first checked his pulse.
After a moment of checking the pulse, he tilted his head.
"How is he? Is it serious?"
"Well..."
"Elder!"
Urged on by Masok, whose eyes were turning red, Elder Jo finally spoke.
"He's perfectly fine. His pulse... It's much stronger than before."
"What did you say?"
"That can't be."
The steward, in disbelief, took Mujin's wrist.
!!!
"Incredible!"
"I wasn't wrong, was I?"
Steward Do nodded.
"But then, why is the Young Master in such a state?"
At Masok's question, the two old men were at a loss for words.
His pulse was clearly fine, yet he was in agony. They couldn't understand it at all.
"Don't... make... such a fuss."
Mujin managed to speak with difficulty.
"Are you alright?!"
"I'm fine... More importantly, help me to the bed. I'm dizzy."
Masok lifted Mujin, who had been sitting up, and laid him on the bed. The two elders moved closer.
"Old-timers... what is this body?"
At the incomprehensible question, the two elders just blinked.
"You must know something, right? Like a special constitution."
"A special constitution..."
"Come to think of it, born with outstanding martial talent... What was it called again?"
As Elder Jo began to speak as if recalling something, Steward Do chimed in as if he remembered too.
"Ah! That's right, the old monk from Shaolin said something about Heavenly Martial... Heavenly Martial something..."
Mujin spoke, his eyes filled with anxiety.
"Don't tell me, of all the constitutions out there, it's not a Heavenly Martial Body?"
"That's it! A Heavenly Martial Body! He said it was the rarest of rare constitutions, a hero's body marked by the heavens to walk the righteous path!"
"..."
At Steward Do's words, Mujin's mouth fell shut.
He had heard about it from his master.
In the martial world, there were countless known constitutions, most of which stemmed from exceptional martial talent.
Among them, there was one constitution that was the absolute antithesis of demonic arts.
The Heavenly Martial Body.
A unique constitution where, if one tried to learn demonic arts, the body, born with righteous energy, would suffer extreme pain and, in severe cases, even die.
'There's the Heavenly Martial True Body, the Heaven-Slaughtering Body, the Heavenly Fire Body, the Heavenly Water Body... countless heaven-sent constitutions, but of all things!'
Mujin gritted his teeth.
He was a master known as the Divine Demon, but he only knew three martial arts.
Phantom Soul Demonic Arts. Phantom Soul Sword Arts. The Nine Swords of Dugu.
The Phantom Soul Demonic and Sword Arts were the essence of his school, and the Nine Swords of Dugu...
'The art of my master's friend, whose martial veins were severed. An art consisting only of sword forms, which he told me to pass on should I ever find a suitable talent.'
It was a martial art he had never practiced himself, knowing only its forms.
"I'm so fucked."
To think his secret arts, which had left a mark on the history of the martial world in his past life, were now completely unusable in this body.
In this state, the only things he could learn immediately were the inferior arts of the Flame Emperor and the Nine Swords of Dugu, which only had forms and lacked a proper internal method.
With a duel arranged for the month after next, Mujin's vision went dark, unsure how to overcome this crisis.
'No... it's literally... going... dark...'
His energy severely depleted, Mujin fell asleep.
"Hoo. The Young Master's symptoms are getting worse."
"You should prepare yourself as well."
Masok, who had served Mujin since he was five, shook off the hand of Elder Jo, who had placed it on his shoulder.
"How can you say something so disrespectful!"
Though they were before the sleeping Mujin's bed, the agitated Masok didn't hesitate to shout at Elder Jo.
He was a servant who knew no martial arts, but Elder Jo knew his heart was with Mujin, so he couldn't bring himself to scold him.
"...The Young Master is asleep. For now, you should rest too. All we can do for the time being is watch over him."
With that, the two old men turned and left.
But Masok did not leave his side. He brought a damp towel and began to wipe the sweat from Mujin's face.
"Young Master. You can't leave like this. You absolutely can't."
Recalling Mujin's childhood, when he had shone so brightly even at the tender age of five, Masok could never let him go.
Praised for his martial talent by countless orthodox sects and receiving marriage proposals from numerous prestigious families even at the age of five, that version of Mujin still shone brightly in Masok's heart.
It was three days after he had fallen into a dead sleep that Mujin opened his eyes.
The pain, like his stomach was being torn open and churned, was gone. Opening his eyes, Mujin let out a sigh.
Judging by the bright sunlight streaming through the crooked window, it seemed to be morning.
At his bedside, Masok was slumped over, fast asleep with a towel in his hand.
"Looks like he stayed up all night nursing me."
Mujin smiled as he watched the soundly sleeping Masok.
In his past life, he could count on one hand the number of people who had acted so freely around him.
The master who had led him to the path of a warrior, the Lord of the Sun Moon Divine Cult who was his sworn brother, his one and only lover, and her two younger siblings.
Everyone else either trembled in fear before him or drew their swords, attacking him while spewing curses.
"Mmm. Mumble... Young Master... don't... go..."
Watching Masok talk in his sleep, Mujin's expression softened considerably.
Just as a smile was about to form on his face, Masok's sleep-talking continued.
"Where do you think you're going with that head of yours? Just... just stay cooped up quietly in the family estate..."
-Thwack!
"Kuh!"
His eyes flew open, and a sharp pain shot through his head. Masok bolted upright, clutching his head.
"Ugh... Huh? Y-Young Master?! Young Master!"
Masok rushed forward with his arms wide open.
-Thump.
Mujin lifted a foot and pushed him away, shaking his head.
"I have no interest in rolling around in bed with another man in broad daylight."
Masok, who had fallen to the floor, shot back up and examined Mujin's condition.
Despite the rough treatment, he didn't seem to mind at all.
It had been seventeen years since he had started showing signs of madness.
For Masok, who had served him all these years, this hardly even counted as mistreatment.
In fact, he was relieved that Mujin's personality hadn't changed much from three days ago.
"Are you alright? Are you really okay to be up like this?"
"How much longer do you expect me to lie down for a little pain like that? One night was more than enough."
"Huh? But Young Master, you were in bed for three whole days. Please check yourself carefully. Are you really okay?"
At the mention of three days, Mujin closed his eyes and inspected his dantian.
Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, all the internal energy from the Phantom Soul Arts had dissipated, and he couldn't even feel what could be called a dantian.
"Well, it seems there's nothing to worry about. More importantly, I was out for three days?"
"Yes! I was so worried!"
Mujin shook his head, looking at the teary-eyed Masok.
'Just attempting a Lesser Heavenly Cycle for a few cycles knocked me out for three days... If I force it, I really will die.'
The thought that trying to overcome the Heavenly Martial Body might actually kill him this time made Mujin sigh deeply.
"Hah. I'm really fucked."
At his lament, Masok rolled up his sleeves and stood up.
"I'll go to the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild right now. I'll get on my hands and knees and beg until this whole thing is called off..."
-Thwack!
"Gah! Ow, what was that for?!"
"What's a servant of a martial family doing begging? You should be thinking about assassinating that bastard instead."
"Wh-What?! Good heavens, please watch your mouth! If anyone hears you, the Yeomhwa Family will be reduced to ashes!"
"Why are you so scared of a mere merchant family?"
"Of course I'm scared. They're one of the top ten merchant guilds in the Central Plains, extending their influence not just in Hubei but across the nation, including here in Sichuan. Do you know how many masters they have as retainers? A martial family like ours could be wiped out if we're not careful..."
"Enough. A bunch of nobodies. More importantly... you need to stop by the blacksmith."
"The blacksmith?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Mujin frowned at Masok's incessant questioning.
"Go and have a sword forged."
"If you need a sword, you can just use one from the family estate. It might be old, but still..."
"Just do as you're told."
Masok looked up at Mujin with a grim expression.
"Well... I'd like to, but we're worried about where our next meal is coming from. Using money to buy a sword is..."
"What, this family doesn't even have that much money?"
Instead of an answer, a long sigh was heard.
"Haaaah."
"Just how bad is it?"
"Didn't you see the debt collector? The guys from the Bangho Gang come pestering us every single day. The steward never stops sighing as it is."
Mujin's face hardened at those words.
"That third-rate thug from the market?"
"Yes. That third-rate thug... I mean, a disciple of the Bangho Gang. The Bangho Gang is a renowned unorthodox sect here in Seochang. Rumor has it their leader, the Twin Blades Under Heaven, is an incredible master who has learned the Black Hand Twin Tyrant Heaven-Rending Moon-Slaying Arts."
"What? The Black Hand... what?"
"The Black Hand Twin Tyrant Heaven-Rending Moon-Slaying Arts."
"..."
Mujin was rendered speechless by a martial art name he'd never heard in his life.
He had fought to his heart's content against everyone from the warriors of Mount Tianshan, known as the Iron-Blooded, to the warriors of Guizhou's Samu-cheon, and even the dogs of the Nine Great Sects.
He never hesitated to cross blades with anyone who stood in his way, regardless of whether they were orthodox, unorthodox, or demonic.
But even he had never heard of such a martial art.
"Sounds like some nobody from the underworld. Twin Blades Under Heaven? Black Hand whatever? Most guys with such grandiose technique names or titles are just parasites living off the dark factions."
"That's not true! I heard it myself. Old Lady Shim from the teahouse down at the market saw the Twin Blades Under Heaven fighting some rogue warrior. She said there was a sound like the world was turning upside down, and in the blink of an eye, the rogue's chest was split open, and he was dead."
"...How old is that lady?"
"Around... over seventy, I think?"
"And you believe the words of an old woman like that?"
"Hey, she's a very spry old lady. She might be a bit forgetful, but..."
"Forget it. Let's not even talk about it."
"Where are you going?!"
Masok shouted as he watched Mujin walk out of the room, and quickly followed.
"Where do you think? You said we have no money. So I have to go make some."
"How?"
"The Bangho Gang. You said we owe them. What's the big deal if the debt gets a little bigger?"
!
Masok, utterly shocked, blocked Mujin's path.
"Young Master! You can't! Absolutely not! If you want to go, you'll have to step over my..."
"You mean it?"
Seeing Mujin lift his foot, Masok quickly stepped aside.
"Why are you really doing this?!"
"What?! What's the problem? You said we have no money. So why the hell are you making a fuss when I'm going to get some!"
"Am I doing this for no reason? You beat that Bangho Gang disciple to a pulp! You even threatened to kill him! Do you think if you walk into their den, they're going to say, 'Oh, welcome! How much do you need?'"
"That's a matter of explaining it to them so they understand."
"How?"
Seeing Masok holding onto a sliver of hope, Mujin raised his fist.
"For underworld scum who suck the blood of the common people, this is the only medicine. A good beating solves everything."
"..."
Leaving the dumbfounded Masok behind, Mujin walked forward.
"Brother!"
"Big brother!"
Seeing Mujin for the first time in three days, the two children ran to him.
The two children immediately hugged him.
Looking down at his two younger siblings hugging his legs with bright, innocent faces, an unconscious smile appeared on Mujin's lips.
"Were you training?"
Crouching down to pat the children's heads, Mujin looked at Elder Jo standing behind them.
"Yes. In the morning, they are practicing the opening forms of the Red Flame Arts."
"And energy sensing practice in the afternoon?"
!
Elder Jo looked slightly surprised at Mujin's words and nodded.
How could he, who knew nothing of martial arts, know about energy sensing practice?
'Well, he is the son of a martial family.'
They were on the verge of ruin, but he was still the eldest grandson of a martial family; he could have easily picked up that much.
His mind was so erratic that he had probably just forgotten until now.
He, too, was of the bloodline of the Flame Emperor, whom he had sworn to follow for life.
"Big brother! Have you tried energy sensing practice? It's so hard."
"That's right! I can't feel anything, but he keeps telling me to feel it."
Mujin removed his hands from the children's heads, his smile vanishing as he spoke with a serious tone.
"Ki is the source of all things. It exists everywhere in the world. A martial artist must live their life sensing this ki, breathing it, and accumulating it in their dantian. This is your first step, so you must not complain. After all, humans are also part of this world, so you could say we are also made of ki. There is no need to rush. Slowly, without losing focus, try to feel it. Sometimes, ki can be felt in a gentle breeze, or in a heavy rock that holds its ground."
As Mujin spoke, the two children's eyes widened. By the time he finished, a strong resolve, hard to believe for such young children, was reflected in their eyes.
For the two children who could barely remember their parents' faces, he, their only remaining blood relative, had been difficult to approach.
The warmth he showed them during his rare moments of lucidity was the only refuge for the two children who had no one else to rely on.
That was why Elder Jo's words and Mujin's words carried different weights for the two children.
Watching the two children scurry back to their training with determined eyes, Elder Jo was confused.
'Is that also just something he picked up from rumors?'
It was all common sense, but for some reason, his words seemed to contain a profound depth.
It didn't sound like he was just repeating things he'd heard, but like a master explaining the insights he had personally gained.
Elder Jo watched the two children practicing their forms for a moment before approaching Mujin.
"By the way, where are you going?"
"To the Bangho Gang."
"T-To the Bangho Gang? For what reason?"
"To borrow some more money."
"..."
Instead of speaking, Elder Jo looked at Masok, who was standing next to Mujin.
But he, having already given up on stopping Mujin, just shook his head.
'Elder, you try to stop him.'
Seeing Masok looking at him pleadingly, Elder Jo shook his head.
'It really is madness.'
"The Bangho Gang is a well-known underworld faction in Seochang."
"So it seems. But what was a respectable martial family doing borrowing money from a bunch of underworld thugs like them?"
At Mujin's question, which sounded like he was scolding them for a mistake, Elder Jo's brow furrowed.
'It was for your medicine and treatment!!'
Elder Jo swallowed the words he couldn't bring himself to say and spoke.
"For the Young Master's treatment, the previous Family Head spared no expense on medicine and summoned every famous doctor in the Central Plains."
"Wouldn't it have been easier to just call the Taoists from the Kongtong Sect with that money?"
It was a piercing question.
"Hah. For some reason, the Kongtong Sect and its vassal families all refused our requests. They all used the excuse of having matters to attend to within their sect."
"So Kongtong is in on it too? That means the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild is powerful enough to move the Kongtong Sect."
Elder Jo flinched at Mujin's words.
Mujin was unhesitatingly voicing the suspicion that everyone in the family had only harbored in their hearts.
"Outside..."
"Yeah, yeah. I'll watch my mouth, so don't worry. I'll be back."
"W-Wait a moment..."
Looking at Mujin, who turned back with an annoyed expression, Elder Jo couldn't think of what to say to stop him.
"Take the family warriors with you."
"No need. I'm not fond of moving around in a pack."
With that, Mujin turned away.
'Should I follow him?'
He was, after all, the eldest son who would lead the Yeomhwa Family.
But for some reason, Elder Jo wanted to let him go alone.
Perhaps it was because his heart had grown weary from seventeen years of the man's madness and the nursing that showed no signs of improvement.
'Still, he's the future head of the Yeomhwa Family. What could possibly happen?'
Reassuring himself with that thought, Elder Jo focused on the two children who were diligently practicing.
And so, time passed.
"What! So you're saying you let the Young Master go alone?!"
Steward Do's voice was louder than ever before.
"What could happen?"
!!!
"You! Surely... He is still of his Lordship's blood!"
"Isn't he a setting sun anyway? He won't be with us for long. Didn't you and I already make up our minds?"
"Still! This isn't right! Are you saying we should just stand by and watch his Lordship's bloodline die on the streets?!"
With those words, Steward Do ran outside.
Elder Jo shouted at his back.
"If you mess with the Bangho Gang, the Annihilation Sect will make a move!"
Steward Do, who had paused for a moment at Elder Jo's words, started moving again.
No matter how unsound his mind was, as long as he was of the Flame Emperor's bloodline, he couldn't let him die a lonely death away from home.