Chapter 19

Am I having a nightmare?

Seon Woo-baek shouted, his voice cracking with fear.

"I-I’m the second son of the Jincheon Gate! If you touch me, you won’t get away unscathed!"

"What’s this? Without Jincheon Gate backing you, you’re nothing? Pathetic."

"D-don’t come near me! If you lay a finger on me, I’ll tell my father! He’ll avenge me!"

"Go ahead."

"Stay back! Tiger's Origin Palm!"

Whoosh!

Bang!

Once again, Seon Woo-baek launched a palm strike at Yeon Woo-jin, but it was futile. It was as if an invisible barrier was protecting him.

Seeing this, Seon Woo-baek muttered in disbelief, "Body-Guarding Energy?"

The Body-Guarding Energy was a high-level technique that automatically protected the body by moving qi on its own. It wasn’t something just anyone could learn, and even for those who did, it required an exceptionally high level of mastery to use effortlessly.

It made no sense.

For someone not even in their twenties to wield such a technique? Even his father, the master of Jincheon Gate, couldn’t deploy Body-Guarding Energy so naturally.

But he wasn’t the only one shocked.

Ma Ryang, who had been watching from the shadows, was equally astonished. Meanwhile, Jeok Seong observed with a knowing expression, as though this outcome was inevitable.

-You knew about this?-

Ma Ryang’s telepathic voice reached Jeok Seong, who smirked and nodded.

-It’s really Body-Guarding Energy?-

-It’s something even greater. You’ll understand if you ever spar with the Young Master. Then you’ll see his magnificence for yourself.-

-Spar with the Young Master? Are you saying you’ve done so often? What if he got hurt?-

-I used to worry about that too. But not anymore. Now, it’s me who has to hold back.-

-What?-

-He’s stronger than I am. And he’s still getting stronger.-

-T-that’s impossible! The Lord himself told me the Young Master had no talent for martial arts!-

-It’s not martial arts.-

-Then what?-

-Even if I explained, you wouldn’t understand. It’s something you have to experience firsthand. But one thing’s for certain—you’ll witness the rise of an unparalleled, never-before-seen absolute ruler in the history of the martial world.-

Hearing this, Ma Ryang swallowed nervously. Jeok Seong was a warrior who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him. Yet even he admitted defeat.

Who exactly was Yeon Woo-jin?

And why, with such strength, wasn’t he challenging to become the successor of Mushincheon? It was incomprehensible.

-The Lord doesn’t know yet.-

-Know what?-

-How strong the Young Master has become.-

-We should tell him! He’ll be thrilled. The Young Master could become the successor of Mushincheon!-

-Neither of them wants that.-

-What do you mean?-

-They both wish to live freely, away from Mushincheon. That’s why the Lord raised the Young Master in secret, away from its gaze.-

Jeok Seong misunderstood. Yeon Cheon-baek had hidden Yeon Woo-jin out of concern that revealing his identity as his grandson could put him in danger.

While the two communicated through telepathy, an ear-piercing scream echoed.

They turned their heads swiftly to see Seon Woo-baek collapsed on the ground, his legs shattered, desperately trying to crawl away.

But he didn’t get far.

Ahead of him stood Yeon Woo-jin’s feet. As Seon Woo-baek looked up with trembling eyes, Yeon Woo-jin smiled faintly.

"Where do you think you’re going? We haven’t even started our conversation."

The blackness in Yeon Woo-jin’s eyes deepened, spreading terror.

"Let’s first settle the debt you owe to Woon before we begin."

Whoosh.

Without laying a hand on him, Seon Woo-baek’s body was lifted off the ground. He gasped in horror.

"H-how… Object Manipulation?"

Yeon Woo-jin just smiled.

"You started with this, didn’t you?"

Thud!

Yeon Woo-jin’s foot slammed into Seon Woo-baek’s abdomen.

Boom.

Crash.

Seon Woo-baek flew through the air and tumbled across the ground.

"Urgh! Cough! Cough! Huff! Huff!"

He struggled to catch his breath, gasping for air.

Then, his body floated back up again, suspended in mid-air.

Despair filled Seon Woo-baek’s eyes.

"I told you," Yeon Woo-jin said, his voice chilling. "I’d pay you back tenfold. That’s one."

***

Slap! Slap! Slap!

The sound of leather striking flesh echoed.

"Pl…ease… I’m…so…rry…."

"What? I can’t hear you."

"I-I’m…so…rry…."

"Woon must’ve said the same thing to you. But you didn’t show him mercy, did you?"

"N-no…! I-it’s…a…mis…under…stand…ing!"

Even with his face swollen and his speech slurred, Seon Woo-baek used every ounce of strength to plead.

Hearing him, Yeon Woo-jin chuckled coldly.

He had already seen everything through his psychic ability, including the truth of what Seon Woo-baek had done to Jang Woon.

"If you’d been honest, I might have let you off a little. But you’re beyond saving."

At Yeon Woo-jin’s frigid words, Seon Woo-baek flinched.

"Now, shall we move on to the next part?"

What came after the slaps?

Seon Woo-baek racked his brain, trying desperately to remember. But it was hazy.

Perpetrators often forget their own deeds.

Then, the memory surfaced. His face turned pale as he recalled what he had done to Jang Woon.

Seeing his reaction, Yeon Woo-jin smirked.

"Oh? You remembered? That’s right. Let’s see if I can replicate it—I’ve never tried it on a person before."

How did he know? Jang Woon hadn’t told him anything.

Had they spoken here? No, there hadn’t been enough time—Jang Woon had fainted as soon as he saw Yeon Woo-jin.

Then how?

"Surprised? Are you shocked that I know exactly what you did to Woon?"

Seon Woo-baek’s pupils quivered.

Flick.

Yeon Woo-jin’s hand began to move.

"Y-you’re not seriously…!"

"Do you know how terrified Woon was when you did this to him? Just thinking about it makes me sick."

Tap. Tap.

"Was it here? Or maybe here?"

Seon Woo-baek’s eyes widened in horror.

"Well, no matter. I’ll just try them all."

Yeon Woo-jin echoed the very words Seon Woo-baek had once used.

"Right?"

Tap.

When Yeon Woo-jin pressed the final acupoint, dark crimson veins bulged across Seon Woo-baek's face.

Crack. Pop.

A sickening sound came from Seon Woo-baek's body as it began twisting unnaturally.

“Gaaaah!”

The pain was so intense that his pupils dilated to the brink of bursting. Watching the spectacle calmly, Yeon Woo-jin remarked nonchalantly:

"Oh? It actually worked. How does it feel? Not bad, right?"

He repeated Seon Woo-baek's own words back to him with an icy grin.

"Now, enjoy it for a bit. I need to make sure the others lying over there get to experience this too."

With a smirk, he turned to the other boys, whose limbs were already broken, rendering them unable to move.

Witnessing what Yeon Woo-jin had done to Seon Woo-baek, the others flailed in terror.

“S-sorry! Please forgive us!”

“We’ll never do it again! We swear! Just let us go!”

“We were wrong! We were so wrong!”

Their desperate pleas fell on deaf ears. Yeon Woo-jin simply glanced at them and said in an eerily calm tone:

“See? When Woon begged you to stop, you should’ve listened.”

Showing no mercy, Yeon Woo-jin executed the Bone-Splitting and Tendon-Twisting Technique on every one of them. The air filled with the agonized screams of despair, as if the gates of hell had opened.

***

“Ugh…!”

With a groan of pain, Jang Woon slowly opened his eyes.

“Are you okay?”

In front of him stood Yeon Woo-jin.

“Woo-jin?”

“Yeah, it’s me.”

Jang Woon stared at him blankly for a moment, then recalled seeing him at the place where Seon Woo-baek had been. Panic filled his eyes as he looked around.

The room was unfamiliar.

“I brought you to the Medical Hall for treatment. You were in pretty bad shape.”

“What about you? Did those bastards hurt you?”

Despite his condition, Jang Woon worried more about Yeon Woo-jin. Seeing this, Yeon Woo-jin smiled.

“Worry about yourself. Who’s supposed to be looking after who here?”

Relieved by Yeon Woo-jin’s lighthearted tone, Jang Woon let out a sigh.

“So they didn’t touch you after all.”

“Yeah, we had a good talk. They won’t be bothering you anymore.”

“A talk? And they actually listened to you?”

“Sure. Once I got serious, they admitted their mistakes.”

Jang Woon couldn’t believe it.

“Don’t trust those scumbags. They probably pretended to listen and have something planned. You could be their next target.”

“That’s not going to happen. Just wait and see.”

“Wait and see? That’ll be too late! They’re the worst kind of people!”

“Focus on getting better. I’ve already informed the academy, so stay here and recover for the time being.”

“Woo-jin!”

“Stop worrying about me. The doctor said you’ll need about two weeks of rest. Just take it easy and we’ll talk then.”

Yeon Woo-jin stood to leave, but as Jang Woon tried to sit up and stop him, pain shot through his body.

“Ah! Don’t get involved with them again. Avoid them as much as you can, okay?”

“Got it. Stop worrying.”

As Yeon Woo-jin reached the door, he turned back and said:

“Thanks… for being my friend.”

Jang Woon gave a faint smile.

“What are you talking about? Quit saying weird stuff and take care of yourself.”

“Alright. See you when you’re better.”

***

Bang!

“What do you mean they won’t say who did this? How is that possible?”

“They… they start convulsing and thrashing around whenever the culprit is mentioned, Young Master. They look utterly terrified.”

“This is infuriating! Who the hell did this to my precious child?”

The once-healthy Seon Woo-baek had returned home reduced to a babbling idiot overnight.

Jincheon Gate Master, Seon Su-ho, burned with rage as he searched everywhere for the culprit, but no clues had surfaced.

“Not just my son, but all the boys who were with him had their limbs broken and were left in the same state, weren’t they?”

“Yes, sir. The third son of the Seungyang Gate is also exhibiting the same symptoms. Their Gate Master is also investigating furiously.”

“Not one of them came out unscathed?”

“That’s correct… according to witnesses, there was one other boy with them.”

“Who?”

“His name is Jang Woon.”

“Jang Woon? Which family is he from?”

“He’s the son of a guard from the Eighth Patrol Division.”

“Insignificant. My son was associating with someone like that?”

“It seems… it wasn’t so much an association as it was… entertainment for the Young Master.”

“And?”

“A witness reported seeing Jang Woon heading toward Baekyaksa with the Young Master on the day it happened.”

“Baekyaksa. That’s where Woo-baek was found, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Bring me that boy. He must be connected to this.”

“The problem is… he’s currently receiving treatment at the Medical Hall.”

“What?”

“He’s also in poor condition. If we forcibly bring him in now, it could cause an uproar.”

“Damn it! Then someone must have taken him there. Who?”

“Yes, sir! There’s another boy—Yeon Woo-jin.”

“What do we know about him?”

“He’s the grandson of the Third Hall Master of the Boundless Library.”

“Even more insignificant. Fine, bring him here! If he took Jang Woon there, he must know something.”

“Well, there’s… another issue.”

“What now? Is he bedridden too?”

“No, but… upon further investigation, the boy is under the Military Advisor’s watch.”

“What?”

“He entered the academy on the Advisor’s recommendation. He’s not someone we can easily touch.”@@novelbin@@

“Why is the Military Advisor interested in him?”

“It seems he’s quite intelligent. The Advisor may be grooming him for use in the Advisor’s division.”

Messing with someone under the Military Advisor’s protection was unthinkable—it could result in the complete annihilation of the Jincheon Gate.

Seon Su-ho sighed heavily, rubbing his temples.

“Fine. Then summon him politely. That much is acceptable.”

“Yes, sir.”

“This is infuriating. Having to tread so carefully with such insignificant worms….”