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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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I thoroughly washed the acquired core. Its color was a deep green, similar to the Gobulins’ core, but this one was darker. As I examined and touched its surface, I felt a kind of energy emanating from it.
A bad energy, perhaps?
No, green is a good color. Our Green Bean General is proof of that. If I consume this, my internal energy will become even stronger.
I put the core in my pocket and headed towards the cave, just as the two of them emerged, dragging a body.
“She hasn’t been dead long. They might have killed her after hearing we were coming.”
“…”
“It seems she suffered terribly for a long time. Truly horrific.”
The woman we were trying to save was already dead.
Realizing this fact, a sense of reverence washed over me, and I bowed my head.
“I’ll cremate her. Wait a moment.”
“I’ll help.”
“I will assist.”
“…Alright.”
We immediately prepared the body and proceeded with the cremation. It wasn’t difficult with Ha-yeong, a Taoist, present. After performing the funeral rites for the unknown woman, we erected a tombstone.
“This leaves a bitter taste. I wish we could have saved her.”
While I was pleased to have annihilated the Kappas and secured the core, the ending was not ideal.
“It couldn’t be helped. It wasn’t something we could have prevented.”
“Yeah. It couldn’t be helped.”
Still, I can’t help but feel uneasy.
“Why so gloomy? You won’t live long if you worry about every little thing. Come on! Show me the core you got!”
Ha-yeong spoke loudly, as if trying to lighten the mood.
The dead are the dead, and the living are the living.
Let us do our work.
“Here.”
I immediately took out the core.
“Truly…no matter how many times I see it, it’s fascinating. If I were to eat this, I would immediately vomit blood and fall into Qi deviation. But Geun-hyeop…”
“Can eat it.”
I can eat this.
“Give it here.”
Ha-yeong picked up the Core with her thumb and index finger, brought it close to her eyes, and began to examine it.
“As expected, a demon core is a demon core. You’re going to eat this right away, aren’t you?”
“Of course.”
“But isn’t this place a little…inauspicious? Shall we do it somewhere safer? We’ve finished our work, so we can take our time.”
She wasn’t wrong.
“It doesn’t really matter. Alright, let’s pack up and head down. Let’s gather some spoils.”
“Ah. You’re thinking of collecting the monsters’ byproducts?”
“Hehehe, of course. Ha-yeong, you seem like an expert in this area. Ha-yeong, do these things like their shells fetch a good price?”
“You’re so thorough. Beaks, webbed feet, shells. Those are worth taking. They’ll sell.”
“Oh!”
I immediately rummaged through the Kappas’ corpses.
However, since they all died by burning or being dismembered, their condition wasn’t exactly great. Still, I managed to find a few that looked decent and extracted their beaks, webbed feet, and shells.
“Oh.”
I discovered a relatively small Kappa corpse.
The size of its shell was just small enough to cover a forearm. Could this be made into a kind of shield worn on the forearm?
I should give this to Jaemison. Since he uses a spear-like weapon called Isangjego instead of a sword, a shield worn on one forearm might be suitable.
After collecting everything worth taking, we fashioned a simple A-frame carrier and loaded it up.
“Let’s go!”
The Kappas that had occupied the river were all killed by our hands. For a while, they won’t be appearing again. The thought that we had performed a righteous deed made my chest swell with a bit of pride.
Still, given time, they will eventually recover. Kappas will reappear, and women will be abducted again.
A tragedy that will continue to exist as long as monsters exist.
With my sword, I will sever that tragedy.
We arrived back at the cave where we had initially settled.
We could rest here for a bit and then I could consume the core. We cleared away the remains of the Kappa we had just killed, built a fire, and quickly finished our meal.
“You’ve expended a significant amount of internal energy, so start with meditative breathing exercises. Generally, elixirs should be absorbed when the mind and body are in a stable state.”
“Yes, Master.”
I followed Serin’s instructions and began my meditative breathing.
Whoooo.
I circulated the Azure Wing Heart Technique, replenishing my depleted internal energy through respiration. With this, the internal energy in my Dantian began to recover little by little.
While my internal energy had been depleted from using the Demon Fury Slash, as I practiced meditative breathing and examined myself closely, I felt that my situation was a bit better than last time. Should I say that the amount of internal energy consumed has slightly improved? It seemed like there was a little more than 10% remaining.
Could it be…it improves with use?!
If so, maybe someday I’ll be able to use the Demon Fury Slash twice in a row!
“Phew.”
I finished my meditative breathing and opened my eyes. It seemed both of them had been resting. As I got up, both women also sat up.
“Geun-hyeop, is your body alright?”
“Yeah. Besides the depleted internal energy, I’m fine. My stamina has fully recovered.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Then shall we do a little test?”
I stood up and grabbed my sword.
“Go ahead.”
Ha-yeong said.
“Okay.”
I assumed my stance and released my energy.
Crackle.
A violet energy enveloped my sword. A complete success. Now I can unleash this energy freely whenever I want.
My achievements have deepened this much.
“Ooh.”
“As expected.”
Serin and Ha-yeong nodded.
“I definitely felt it. This is a little different from demonic energy.”
“Different?”
“Yes. But it doesn’t feel like a martial artist’s internal energy either. So…for now, to distinguish it, let’s call it Ghost Qi (Gwi-Gi).”
“Ghost Qi!”
So cool!
“I like it! Let’s go with that! It’s clearly distinct from things like demonic energy or internal energy, which is good!”
“Hmm…doesn’t the character for ‘ghost’ make it sound ominous?”
Serin said, sounding a bit dissatisfied, but this was cool!
“But calling it Ghost Qi sounds awesome.”
“Truly befitting of a demonic sect, Geun-hyeop. Wouldn’t a different name be better?”
“Demonic sect, huh. It does have that kind of feeling, but I don’t care about those things. The important thing is that I will use this power righteously.”
“Ah.”
Serin opened her mouth at my words.
“My mistake. You are right. The name isn’t important. What matters is the righteousness and chivalry within Geun-hyeop’s heart.”
“Hehehe, that’s exactly right, Serin.”
As a sign of praise, I placed my hand on Serin’s head.
“So, let’s say Ghost Qi is decided, shall we begin?”
“Let’s get started.”
I received the core.
“You’re very special. You possess a constitution unknown in this world. You absorb demon cores to accumulate pure internal energy, and then release it as Ghost Qi.”
“Yes.”
“What will happen if you eat a Kappa’s core in this state? If there’s any change, I think it would be good to delve into that aspect.”
“Ha-yeong, you’re good at that. I trust you.”
“Alright! Trust this Taoist!”
I sat down.
“Geun-hyeop, relax your mind as much as possible. When absorbing an elixir, you must calm your mind to avoid any adverse effects.”
Serin’s advice.
“I’ll keep my wits about me while thinking of your face, so don’t worry.”
“Wouldn’t that make your heart race and make it harder?”
“That’s true, too!”
Alright, let’s eat the core!
“Hah!”
Slowly.
I put the core in my mouth and rolled my tongue to melt it. Just like before, the core melted away like a lie, sending its energy down my throat.
Slowly, feeling the energy descend through my esophagus…
I opened my lower Dantian and began the process of receiving the new energy.
Whoooo.
The Azure Wing Heart Technique circulated, and my internal energy began to flow throughout my body. Carefully, in that state, I absorbed the core’s energy that had settled in my Dantian.
Saaaak.
New internal energy began to accumulate in my Dantian. The process was very stable. Actually, it had to be. It’s like the saying goes, “Practice makes perfect.” Since I have experience eating these cores, why would anything strange happen here?
I completely absorbed the core.
Even so…
Tzzt.
While meditating as I absorbed the core, I felt a hazy image. What I saw…was a vast expanse of something blue. Water, perhaps? Since it’s a Kappa’s core, am I seeing something like a river or stream?
In the image, I was swimming and moving in that river.
It was a rather meaningless image. But I instinctively knew. For a martial artist, an image is something very important, related to enlightenment.
I imagined myself holding my sword and recalled the characteristics of the Kappas. If I can absorb demonic energy with core, wouldn’t it be possible to absorb the monster’s power contained within it?
My mind gradually sank deeper.
When I opened my eyes, the whole world was flesh-toned.
Moreover, my body was warm.
“Huh?”
I realized Serin was holding me as if embracing me.
“Ah, you’re awake?”
“Serin! What is this?!”
As I abruptly sat up, Serin also slowly raised herself.
“I thought the temperature dropped a bit, so I held you. You were sleeping so soundly. Was it warm and nice?”
Serin teased me with a seductive smile. Receiving such a look made me incredibly embarrassed.
“No…even though I’m a grown man…being held like that by a woman like you is difficult.”
“Hmm? What’s so difficult about it? Is it because of your Yang energy?”
“I don’t know!”
“Heehee, you said it was okay.”
But where’s Ha-yeong?
Ah.
She’s sleeping behind me.
So, the three of us just slept side-by-side? This is truly extravagant. To sleep flanked by legends of the martial world…
“Mmm…what? You’re awake? You fell asleep while meditating, so I put you to bed.”
“Thanks. You even made a bed for me because I fell asleep.”
Crackle, crackle.
It was nighttime, but it wasn’t too cold thanks to the bonfire burning in front of us. Plus, it was slightly warmer inside the cave. With bedding laid out on the floor and even blankets, it was more like camping than sleeping rough.
“Don’t mention it. It’s only natural.”
Ha-yeong tidied up the blankets.
“Hmm. Now that Geun-hyeop is awake, even though it’s a bit late, shouldn’t we check the results of consuming the core?”
“Sure, why not. We have to test it anyway. Hey, come sit down.”
“Okay.”
Time for the examination.
I immediately sat down in a cross-legged position.
“Do you feel anything new?”
“I’ll check.”
I felt my body as I practiced meditative breathing.
“Oh. The amount of my internal energy has increased.”
“Anything else you feel?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Think carefully. You said your Yang energy seemed to have strengthened because of the Hayagriva’s core. Since you ate the Kappa’s, there might be something else as well.”
Indeed.
I am acutely aware that my Yang energy has strengthened after consuming the Hayagriva’s core. Of course, the Kappa leader isn’t stronger than Hayagriva; in fact, they can’t even be compared, but he is at least stronger than me. So, there’s a high probability that there’s been some change.
Come to think of it…
“An image…I saw an image.”
“You saw an image? Tell me more.”
At the mention of an image, Serin, being a martial artist, reacted immediately.
“Well, it was an image of me swimming in a wide river. As I was absorbing the Kappa’s core, I sort of felt it.”
“Swimming…ah, could it be?”
“Hmm?”
“Perhaps Geun-hyeop has become a better swimmer.”
Swimming?
“Isn’t that right? Kappas are water monsters. And good swimmers at that. Since you said you saw an image of swimming, perhaps you’ve gained that effect.”
“That’s it!”
That’s exactly it!
“That makes sense! Then swimming!”
“Night swimming is prohibited. Let’s try in the morning.”
“Ah. That’s true.”
But I have a strong feeling about this.
It’s like I suddenly gained confidence in my swimming ability.
This will work.
“But wait. Kappas, their arms stretched out too, right? I’m not going to be like that, am I?!”
Whoosh!
With a bit of anticipation, I threw a punch, but as expected, my arms didn’t stretch out.
“Kyahahaha! What are you doing throwing a punch! Did you really think it would happen?!”
“Ugh…it doesn’t work, huh.”
“Of course not! Your arms aren’t going to stretch out!”
Ha-yeong laughed heartily, then said, “Hey! If the Kappa’s characteristics manifested, wouldn’t it be that way instead?”
“That way? Is there something more?”
“Don’t play dumb. Have you forgotten the lewd things the Kappas were saying? Those guys were just perverts.”
What does that have to do with their characteristics?
Whoosh!
Suddenly, Ha-yeong approached and whispered in my ear, “Do you have any lewd urges? Like, wanting to spread a woman’s…you know…like the Kappas were saying?”
“No, why would I have such thoughts?!”
“What are you talking about, Fire Hibiscus, you!!!”
Not only me, but even Serin cried out in shock!
“Chuckle, chuckle, well, I’m just saying. Your Yang energy is strong because of the Hayagriva, so you’re always…you know… Considering that, wouldn’t it be possible?”
“That’s absurd!”
I shouted, trembling with shame, but…
“…”
Serin’s attitude was strange.
As if she had realized something, she was avoiding my gaze while touching her lips with her finger. And her face was flushed.
This is unsettling.
“S-Serin? No way, right? You’re not thinking of something strange, are you?”
“…Geun-hyeop.”
Serin looked at me.
“Do you really…have such urges? Like…wanting to…”
No!
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