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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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“What are you doing?”
“…Meditating.”
“Why? You can know everything just by looking, right?”
“The Ethereal and the Void are invisible.”
“Ah… Right.”
This pointless exchange took place between Namgung-Woo and Peng Ye-ryeong in the same training hall where he had imparted the Heaven and Earth Infinite Void Divine Art.
Having formally become master and disciple, Peng Ye-ryeong addressed Namgung-Woo as “Senior Brother,” taking his words about treating her as a fellow disciple literally.
“But Senior Brother, don’t you already know all this?”
“…I thought I did, but it turns out I didn’t.”
He knew the theory well enough to teach Peng Ye-ryeong.
But in practice, he still relied on the familiar Sky Vault Great Evolution Divine Art and Heavenly Thunder Emperor Divine Art.
The three dantians – upper, middle, and lower. He hadn’t yet mastered their harmony.
Peng Ye-ryeong circled him, observing his meditation with a puzzled expression.
“But Senior Brother, you’re a Transcendent Realm expert, aren’t you?”
“…That’s right.”
“So, your three dantians are balanced, your essence, energy, and spirit are unified, you’ve achieved the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, and you’ve reached the realm of complete harmony, right?”
“…In terms of internal energy cultivation, yes.”
His answer seemed to displease her.
She puffed out her cheeks and furrowed her brow.
“That’s strange.”
“…What is?”
“If only your internal energy cultivation has advanced, it means only your qi has improved, not your essence or spirit. How can you be a Transcendent Realm expert without achieving the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown?”
How had he become a Transcendent Realm expert? He wished he knew.
Why had he reached the Transcendent Realm?
Was it simply because he’d received the knowledge and understanding of a Transcendent Realm martial artist?
Because he’d been given a naturally gifted body, connected to the Celestial Mysteries, like with his Ever-Clear Vision?
Why, then, couldn’t others reach the Transcendent Realm with innate talent, imparted knowledge, and martial arts teachings?
The answer to the mystery surrounding him might lie within that discrepancy.
This thought struck him with force.
“Ye-ryeong.”
“Huh?”
It was the first time he’d called her by name, and she sounded momentarily startled.
“I think I’ve found a clue…”
He opened his eyes slightly and looked at her with a determined expression.
“Leave me alone.”
“…Okay.”
Over the past few days, spending time with Peng Ye-ryeong discussing the Heaven and Earth Infinite Void Divine Art, he’d finally figured out how to approach it.
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Peng Ye-ryeong trudged out of the training hall and spotted her older sister loitering near the entrance.
She ran over to her.
“Unnie? What are you doing?”
“Oh, Ye-ryeong! You were here too?”
Peng Ye-ryeong nodded and gestured with her fingers as she explained what she had just done.
“Senior Brother went in, so I snuck in. Like this.”
Peng Ye-ryeong had always had a faint presence.
Even Peng Ja-ryeong, a Transcendent Realm expert, often missed her unless he focused his senses.
While she was becoming more “human” as her Celestial Gate began to close, it was still a subtle change.
Combined with her natural talent and the modified Infinite Void Steps, she was practically undetectable to anyone below the level of Han Gye-ran.
Perhaps only the legendary assassins of the Death Curtain Sect could rival her stealth.
But impressive martial arts aside, Peng Ha-ryeong felt the need to scold her younger sister.
She planted her hands firmly on her hips, a stance that conveyed her seriousness.
“You shouldn’t disturb your Senior Brother’s training. Even if you practice the same technique and need guidance, you should make an appointment. Barging in like this puts him in a difficult position.”
“Unnie.”
“What? Are you reflecting on your actions?”
“Did you make an appointment before waiting here?”
“…”
Peng Ha-ryeong deflated.
Peng Ye-ryeong narrowed her eyes and stared intently at her sister.
“Unnie?”
“Well, no, but…”
Her hands slid from her hips, her posture slumping.
“Oh, I see.”
Peng Ye-ryeong suddenly looked at Peng Ha-ryeong’s abdomen.
“Did you use it all up?”
“Ugh…!”
Peng Ha-ryeong groaned as if struck.
Peng Ye-ryeong didn’t possess Namgung-Woo’s Ever-Clear Vision, nor did she have the heightened senses of a peerless expert like Peng Hou-sang or Guo Duan.
But she was exceptionally perceptive, and she remembered her sister proudly demonstrating her newfound power.
“Are you waiting to get more?”
“N-no, it’s not just that…”
Peng Ha-ryeong fidgeted, her voice trailing off.
The Heavenly Thunder True Qi she’d received from Namgung-Woo. She’d stored it carefully in her Zhongji acupoint, but she’d used it all up.
She regretted it.
The Heaven-Sundering Saber Art, or more accurately, the Heaven and Earth Sundering Thunder Saber Art, required a compatible internal energy cultivation method and innate talent she lacked.
But with Namgung-Woo’s Heavenly Thunder True Qi, she could use it.
It was a powerful trump card, a valuable asset for a martial artist navigating the treacherous Jianghu.
Moreover, a Peng Family martial artist aspired to master all five of their clan’s secret saber techniques.
Having only mastered the Linking Rings Soul-Stealing Saber Art and the Iron Blood Executioner Saber Art, the temptation had been too great.
But she’d had no choice.
The Black Tortoise Guardian had been stronger than her. Holding back would have been a suicidal luxury.
“I tried to save some…”
Her shoulders slumped.
She’d hoped to cultivate the Peng Family’s Primordial Lightning Divine Art, using the remaining Heavenly Thunder True Qi as a seed.
But in her desire to give her all during her spar with Namgung-Woo, she ended up using every last drop of it.
“Silly.”
“…I wanted to at least graze his clothes.”
Peng Ha-ryeong pouted.
It was hard to tell who was the older sister.
Before Peng Ye-ryeong’s recovery, Peng Ha-ryeong had always tried to act mature and reassuring.
But now, with her sister’s health improving, she felt more comfortable being herself.
“The Zhongji acupoint, right? Where Senior Brother’s energy was stored.”
“Yes.”
“Hmm, Unnie. Do you realize… Senior Brother is a man. Asking him to put his essence there is a bit… much, even for me.”
“It’s not like that!”
Peng Ha-ryeong’s face flushed crimson as she yelled.
The outburst seemed to snap her back to reality. She nervously glanced towards the training hall, worried that her voice had carried.
“Don’t worry, the training hall is soundproof. So, why were you waiting here?”
“His clothes are finished. I was going to go with him to check them out.”
The Hebei Peng Family had already gifted Namgung-Woo a silk uniform, but it was off-the-rack, not tailored to his measurements.
They’d intended to have a custom-made outfit prepared, but crafting a uniform with special materials was a complex process.
Namgung-Woo, needing to leave for Beijing, hadn’t had time to wait.
“Oh, Unnie.”
Peng Ye-ryeong suddenly realized something.
“What now?”
“…I didn’t close the door when I came out.”
The training hall had been given to Namgung-Woo for his exclusive use.
Since no one else would enter without permission, she’d left the door open to avoid disturbing his meditation.
“Oh…”
Peng Ha-ryeong’s face, which had returned to its normal color, flushed red again.
She turned towards the training hall… and saw Namgung-Woo standing awkwardly at the entrance.
“Well, shall we go see the clothes?”
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“How is it? It’s made from the finest silk used for the Peng Family uniforms, woven with the silk of a Shadow Spider.”
Namgung-Woo examined the outfit, moving his limbs to test the fit.
The black uniform, with its subtle sheen, followed the Goryeo style, as was customary for prominent families.
It resembled a cheollik, a type of Korean hanbok. But unlike the typical cheollik with its narrow, long sleeves, this one had a slightly looser fit, tightening at the wrists, with sleeves tailored to his arm length for practicality.
Like the cheollik that would later become standard attire for military officials, with a few modifications, it made for an excellent martial arts uniform.
“The Shadow Spider’s silk is quite remarkable. It’s incredibly elastic, so no matter how vigorously you move, it won’t tear. It’s also resistant to mystical attacks, so most techniques won’t even reach your person.”
The Peng Family tailor explained with pride, barely containing his enthusiasm for his masterpiece.
‘Spider silk. A familiar material.’
People often thought of spider silk as weak, but it was surprisingly strong for its thinness.
It was said to be five times stronger than steel by weight.
In his world, spider silk fabrics and genetically modified spider silk clothing were common.
It was a highly sought-after material for its unique properties.
But in this world, there was no need for genetic modification.
They could obtain even better spider silk from naturally mutated mystical creatures and yokai.
Though still slightly flustered, Peng Ha-ryeong tried to act nonchalant.
“The Shadow Spider is a rank higher than the Form Snatching Wraith you defeated. Unlike those wraiths, which offer nothing of value, its silk is extremely rare. Some people even keep Ghost Gates open just to farm them.”
Like some kind of livestock?
“The Imperial Family allows that?”
“They tacitly approve it. The Imperial Family is always looking for Shadow Spider silk. There are other valuable materials, but the only one readily available is Celestial Silkworm silk.”
It wasn’t a matter of existence, but of availability.
There were better materials for uniforms and armor, but they were so rare as to be practically unobtainable.
Celestial Silkworm silk was superior to Shadow Spider silk, so much so that it made one question the existence of anything better.
But surprisingly, it was consistently produced.
The Imperial Family and a few other select groups cultivated Celestial Silkworms.
“Another valuable gift.”
“Don’t mention it. You’ve done far more for the Peng Family. I’d love to melt down all the Meteoric Iron we have and forge you a sword, but… you already have something far more precious.”
“Unnie, all the Meteoric Iron we have wouldn’t even make a small dagger.”
“…That’s why I said ‘I’d love to.’”
Namgung-Woo smiled, watching the sisters bicker. His next destination was becoming clear.
The Peng Family’s forge, capable of working with small amounts of Meteoric Iron, had deemed the Sky-Gazing Howler’s horn too difficult to handle.
But there was a place that could.
And that was where he was headed next.
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