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Chapter 311. Seeds of Evil (4)
Ice Arts.
A martial art that manifested Yin Qi into tangible form.
Simple in theory, but actualizing this energy in practice was far from easy.
The greatest difficulty was that Ice Arts constantly gnawed away at the body while residing within it.
A human's body temperature had to be maintained at a constant level at all times, yet Ice Arts continually dragged that temperature down, gnawing away at one's very life.
W̃e̊ ḃ n̆ӧv̊е̃ l Е̇ n̈ um̌a
That was why, unlike Yang-Style Qi Arts—which numbered in the countless—Ice Arts could be counted on one hand.
Because from the very beginning, the way humans channeled qi was to borrow its force, not to manifest the very nature of qi itself.
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'Except for those insane Demonic Cult bastards, of course.'
Those bastards had kicked common sense all the way to the Western Regions from the start. They seized the very nature of qi to spit fire and launch ice.
That was not something accepted within the natural order of things.
In any case, using Ice Arts was a difficult endeavor.
Ě n̂ ǔ m̌а̀
One's constitution had to be suited for it, and a stable form of Ice Arts was required.
Furthermore, one had to give up other martial arts entirely.
The nature of Ice Arts ran contrary to other Qi Arts—especially Yang-Style Qi Arts, which comprised the vast majority of martial arts—so learning both was no different from slathering one's body in oil and diving into a pit of fire.
Even among all the martial arts in the murim, the only art capable of handling both Yin and Yang simultaneously was something on the level of Wudang Sect's Two Principles Taiji Divine Art.
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......But right now, I was the one using it.
"Haha, I must've had too much to drink. Using Ice Arts, of all things."
Ë n̄ û mа̂
I set down the cup, picked up another, and drew upon my inner arts the same as before.
CRACKLE—!
The cup turned cold once more.
"Haha, this is insane."
SLAP— SLAP— SLAP—
My mind didn't seem to be coming back properly, so I slapped myself across the cheek three times.
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"Oh my!"
The woman beside me who had been demonstrating Ice Arts flinched and stepped back, but now wasn't the time for me to worry about that.
This time I picked up the wine bottle and drew upon my inner arts.
CRACKLE—!
"......"
Watching the bottle freeze cold, I poured the wine into a cup with a sense of disbelief and drank.
Еnù m̊а̊.і d
"Ahh! That's refreshing."
"......"
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"......"
It wasn't exactly the right thing to say in this situation, but drinking it cold genuinely made the wine taste twice as good.
"......Young Master, if I may ask."
Hae-ryeong asked cautiously.
Ѐ ň ú ṁа
"Did you perhaps learn the Two Principles Taiji Divine Art at Wudang Sect?"
That's something only passed down to the Sect Leader of Wudang or the disciple set to succeed him.
Even within Wudang Sect right now, the people who've learned it can probably be counted on one hand.
"......Then, are you perhaps...... a Demonic Practitioner?"
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"......"
"Uh, um, you're not, right? Right?"
Ẃе̊b.n ôv ѐ l Е̃ n u̇m̆ ā
"......"
I don't know either.
Not knowing is driving me insane.
***
Hae-ryeong sent the woman who had been using Ice Arts out of the room.
She couldn't be allowed to hear any more.
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......Besides, I could now chill the Flower Ice Dew myself and drink it.
I held up the bottle and asked.
"Can she be trusted?"
If word got out that I'd used Ice Arts.......
"You can trust her. If she couldn't be trusted, I wouldn't have taught her martial arts in the first place."
Glug, glug, glug.
Wе b̄ n о̌ v̀_еl Е́ nu m а̌
Perhaps not pleased with the sight of me pouring wine, Hae-ryeong furrowed her brow.
"......You're drinking right now?"
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"I'm drinking for the experiment."
"What kind of......"
"I need to figure out what's going on."
I emptied one bottle of Flower Ice Dew while testing various things.
Ĕn.um̊ а.і d
First, the power of the Ice Arts wasn't all that strong.
It wasn't that I was modulating it to keep the Yin Qi strong.
No matter how much of my inner arts I poured in, the temperature wouldn't drop below a certain point.
Meaning, it only radiated enough Yin Qi to make wine pleasant to drink.
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It couldn't actually freeze anything.
'Can this even be called Ice Arts in the first place?'
Е̇ n̆_u m̆ а. і̄ d
In other words, I could use Ice Arts, but not at a level usable in actual combat.
Meaning, I could do something like that woman earlier—serve chilled wine at a tavern.
'......I don't think the customers would be too pleased, though.'
"Young Master, what are you thinking about......"
"Ahem, it's nothing."
Second, my inner arts remained unchanged.
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This was the most baffling part.
No matter how closely I examined my qi center or circulated my qi, the inner arts were the same as always.
The nature of the Taeul Qi I originally possessed hadn't changed.
But when I drew upon this Taeul Qi and converted it to a basic Ice Arts circulation—
WHOOOOSH—
......cold qi came pouring out.
Е ǹ üm̄ā. і̇ď.
'I'm going to lose my mind.'
The point was, I couldn't for the life of me figure out the mechanism behind this cold qi manifesting.
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What's more, my so-called inner arts circulation was just a rough imitation of Ice Arts methodology—it wasn't even proper technique.
'This is a serious problem.'
If a martial artist didn't properly understand their own inner arts, it would inevitably become a matter of life and death.
It was no different from carrying a Thunderbolt Bomb inside your body that could go off at any moment.
Ѐ n u m_а̇ .і́ d
"......Young Master?"
Did they sense my expression was troubled? Hae-ryeong and Yang Gun-baek asked cautiously.
"Are you alright?"
I needed to investigate a bit more.
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Instead of answering, I raised the wine bottle.
"Do you happen to have more Flower Ice Dew?"
Е.n̄ŭḿа̌
"......"
"I think I need to run more experiments."
For the first time, wrinkles formed between Hae-ryeong's brows.
"My life depends on this."
"......Haah."
I asked that in all seriousness, though.
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***
After emptying two more bottles of Flower Ice Dew, I was thrown out by Hae-ryeong, who claimed there was no more wine.
'How stingy! And after I brought her good information, too.'
Having emptied a total of three bottles of Flower Ice Dew, there wasn't much more I'd learned.
As long as I kept channeling inner arts, a faint level of cold continued to radiate.
And even when I stopped circulating mid-use of Ice Arts, the inner arts that returned showed no foreign sensation whatsoever.
Eṅ ŭ ḿа̊. і d̈
In other words, it converted to Ice Arts just fine, and reverting it back caused no real issues.
'Thank heavens for that.'
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On that front, I felt some relief.
At least it didn't mean something had gone wrong with my qi center.
Hae-ryeong persistently asked how I'd come to learn Ice Arts, but I couldn't give her any answer.
Because I hadn't learned Ice Arts in the first place.
Е̄ ñ ŭm â
If I had to name one suspect—
'This damned Azure Dragon Bracelet......'
This thing that seemed like it'd poke its head out and whine, 'Why do you only give me hell?'—it was the prime suspect.
Because if I had to name a recent event that brought dramatic changes to my body, the only one was Je Geum-hak—that guy who was "good for the body."
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Moreover, Je Geum-hak was also a practitioner who wielded both Yin Qi and Yang Qi simultaneously.
My mind had been hazy from being beaten so badly that I couldn't remember clearly, but the only time I'd felt a change in my qi center was when I used the Azure Dragon Bracelet to drain Je Geum-hak's inner arts.
Е̂ n̂ üm̀ а
In that regard, the suspect was definitely this Azure Dragon Bracelet.
The Great Star-Absorbing Art could only absorb an opponent's inner arts—it couldn't dissolve them into one's own.
The opponent's inner arts manifested as they were.
If the Azure Dragon Bracelet had absorbed Je Geum-hak's Ice Arts, and I was now using those same Ice Arts.......
'The pieces more or less fit together.'
There were records that those who'd learned the Great Star-Absorbing Art in the past also went around scattering qi of various different natures.
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In my previous life, the former owner of the Azure Dragon Bracelet—the Blood-Drinking Demon Go Jung-ak—had wielded as many as ten different types of qi.
Of course, these incompatible energies eventually drove one mad or caused Qi Deviation.
That was why everyone knew it wasn't something to learn recklessly—and not just because it was on the Murim Alliance's list of Forbidden Arts.
But the problem, if it could be called one, was that my situation was slightly different.
The reason I'd started using the Azure Dragon Bracelet in the first place was because the energies in my qi center didn't separate from one another.
Even now, the energies still weren't separating, which gave me peace of mind—so why had I become able to use Ice Arts?
Eñ u mа̃_
Whatever the case, one thing was certain.
'Goddamn Demonic Cult bastards......'
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This was all those Demonic Cult bastards' fault.
If not for them, I'd never have ended up with a body this bizarre.
Just as I was unleashing a torrent of curses at Je Geum-hak and the other Demonic Practitioners—
I sensed a presence behind me.
Еn u m а .і̃ d
"......What are you doing?"
"Hah...... How did you know?"
"How could I not? At least try to hide yourself. Your presence is radiating this strongly."
The one poking her head out and standing beside me was none other than Sa-ryeon.
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"I've been practicing Concealment Art, but it's really hard."
"You've got Ghost-Breathing Step. Why bother?"
W̌ẽb n ov̀ еl Е n̄ u mа̃
"Ghost-Breathing Step is slow to respond with inner arts. Concealment Art supposedly lets you hide your presence even while using inner arts...... Wouldn't that be more useful in a real fight?"
Fair enough. For assassination or covert operations, Concealment Art would be better.
"There's a decent Concealment Art manual in the Ten-Thousand-Book Repository. Read it sometime."
"You've read through the Ten-Thousand-Book Repository too?"
Yes, in my previous life.
"Seriously...... what kind of person are you?"
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Sa-ryeon shook her head with an expression that said she'd given up trying to understand.
"By the way, where are you coming from this late?"
"And where are you coming from this late, Senior Brother?"
"I went to take care of important business."
Did she have any idea how I ran day and night for the peace and security of Taeul Sect?
Probably not.
Ėn̂ü ṁа̇
And it was right to keep it that way.
This was the weight and responsibility of being the Eldest Senior Brother.......
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Sniff, sniff.
"What are you......"
"Hold still!"
Sa-ryeon suddenly pressed her nose close to me and shot me a suspicious look.
W ё b n о v̆ ѐ l̂ Е ṅ uḿа
"You smell like alcohol."
"......Important business always involves wine. That's just how it works."
"So, what was this important business?"
"Ahem...... It's too early to tell you. I'll let you know when the time comes. But what's that?"
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I hurriedly pointed at the bundle Sa-ryeon was carrying in her arms to change the subject, and she answered.
"Candied fruit and snacks. The juniors have been training hard, so I'm getting them a reward."
Ẁ еb́ n̂о̂v̆ e l̆ Е̊n̂ŭma
"......"
Tsk.
I suddenly felt guilty for going to Sohwa Pavilion alone.
I definitely went there for work, though.
"......I'm proud of you, Junior Sister Ryeon."
When I reached out to pat her head, Sa-ryeon swiftly dodged.
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"What are you doing?!"
"This is the kind of thing the Eldest Senior Brother should be taking care of."
"Then do a better job if you know that."
Somehow, I felt ashamed of how much I'd cursed Gye Cheol-yeong in my previous life.
Now that I'd become the Eldest Senior Brother myself, I wondered how I was any different from Gye Cheol-yeong.......
'No, wait. Comparing myself to that son of a bitch is still going too far, no matter what. Sorry, me.'
Е n um ӓ
How much had that piece of shit lorded it over us?
Putting myself on the same level as that bastard was an insult in itself.
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Damn right.
Just as I was trying to shake off those thoughts, Sa-ryeon blurted out—
"It's fine. Senior Brother...... you're already doing more than enough as a senior brother."
"Hm?"
Е.n u m а
While I tilted my head in confusion, Sa-ryeon continued.
"You brought back Grand Patriarch's True Inheritance, and......it was insane, but you took the juniors through the Regular Exam. That alone shows you're doing well."
"I didn't take them through it. They followed along well on their own."
Sa-ryeon, who had been walking a step behind me, suddenly stopped.
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"Hm? What's wrong? Did you see a ghost?"
"Eun-ho told me something once. During the Regular Exam, he said it was so hard and painful that he wanted to give up, but then he saw Senior Brother's back ahead of him...... So he just followed your back."
W̊ ѐbñ_о̃ve l Ēn üm̈а̀
"......"
"He said he just kept following your back, and before he knew it, he'd arrived at the Murim Academy."
What in the world was that kid Eun-ho going around telling people?
Feeling awkward, I blurted out whatever came to mind.
"What are you talking about? Lady Namgung and Lady Seong were with us back then too."
For some reason, Sa-ryeon let out a long sigh.
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"Why do I even bother talking to you......"
Then she met my eyes again.
"Keep moving forward like you always do, Eldest Senior Brother. I'll take care of looking after the juniors."
Sa-ryeon spoke as if making a solemn pledge, then set off walking again.
This time, one step ahead of me.
Seeing her back, I felt both sorry and proud at the same time.
Ě n̈ um.а̀ .і̆d
After all, protecting Taeul Sect through the Great Righteous-Demonic War that would sweep the murim was impossible with my strength alone.
I couldn't express how grateful I was to have someone keeping pace alongside me like this.
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As I followed behind her, a memory from the Regular Exam suddenly surfaced.
'Hm?'
Come to think of it, I'd used the Azure Dragon Bracelet against the Dark Soul-Severing Unit on the Puyang Plains as well.
And.......
É n̆ ů m̌а
'My qi center expanded back then too, didn't it?'
I stopped walking and stared at both my hands.
If I'd absorbed the nature of Je Geum-hak's inner arts along with his inner arts themselves...... then couldn't I have absorbed the nature of the Dark Soul-Severing Unit's inner arts when I drained theirs as well? That was the thought that struck me.
But thinking about it, I'd never had bone swords protruding from my body or my flesh splitting apart the way they did.
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'Then again, that required procedures only madmen would undergo.'
The thought alone was horrifying.
Еnu̇ m̄ ӓ . і d̀
If bone swords suddenly sprouted out of me at the Murim Academy, or if I showed my skin splitting open and closing again in front of countless members of the Orthodox Path—I'd be declared a Public Enemy of the Murim without a shred of mercy.
In any case, it was fortunate there were no external changes.
The problem was internal changes.
The Dark Soul-Severing Unit's specialty was [Dark Assimilation].
In the darkness, there was absolutely no trace by which one could find them.
Wait a moment.......
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'Oh...... holy shit.'
Did I...... just obtain the ultimate Concealment Art?!!!
I suppressed my excitement and called out to Sa-ryeon.
"Sa-ryeon."
"Yes?"
Sa-ryeon, who had been walking ahead, tilted her head.
Ẃ е b̈ n̂ о̌ v è l Е ń ûm̂а̀
"I'm going to try something right now...... Don't be too shocked by what you see."
"......What?"
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"Something's probably gone wrong with my body."
"What?"
"And you must keep this a secret."
"......Senior Brother."
Ѐ n̆ù m ä. і̆ d̂
Before Sa-ryeon could say another word, I began deploying the Concealment Art I'd seen in the Ten-Thousand-Book Repository.
It wasn't a particularly impressive Concealment Art, but if I'd stolen [Dark Assimilation], then it would likely manifest in the same form the Dark Soul-Severing Unit had displayed.
Meaning, I'd be able to conceal myself completely.
I activated the Concealment Art and slowly walked toward Sa-ryeon.
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Then I spread both hands wide and waved them through the air.
"......"
Ẁеb̊ ṅ о̄ṽ е̃ ĺ Ĕñu̇ m̀â.
Sa-ryeon showed no reaction.
I went behind Sa-ryeon and waved my body around, waved from the side, and waved in front of her once more.
All the while, Sa-ryeon showed absolutely no reaction.
Well, what was I supposed to do about this?
Perhaps I'd become someone who could turn the terror the people of the Central Plains had felt right back on the Demonic Practitioners.
Through this [Dark Assimilation], they too would feel the same dread.......
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"Senior Brother......"
Sa-ryeon suddenly called out to me.
Then she turned her head.
......and looked right at me.
Hm? At me?
Wait, how can she see me?
É n ů m ӑ
Sa-ryeon's face soon took on the exact same expression Hae-ryeong had made, and she let out a sigh.
"Senior Brother, are you drunk? Why do you keep going back and forth like a madman?"
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"......"
"Are you sure the problem's with your body and not your head?"
......Hm, so I didn't acquire [Dark Assimilation] after all?
I quickly turned and walked forward.
Е̃ n̊um.а
"Your level of skill has truly risen. As your Eldest Senior Brother, I couldn't be more pleased."
"......Why are you suddenly dropping your voice like that?"
"Ahem! My, the moon certainly is bright tonight."
Unspeakable shame washed over me like a wave.
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