Chapter 38: If You Have Nowhere To Go, Why Dont You Come With Me?


    I walked over to the fallen Wiji Cheon.


    <em>He finally fainted.</em>


    My First Unlimited sh had pierced the back of his hand, not his heart. My aim was to make him lose his grip on the sword, but he never let go of it, even though his hand was bleeding profusely, and even when he was unconscious and stunned.


    Tsk, its great that you didnt let go of the sword, but whats the point of hanging on to it if you pass out? Clicking my tongue, I pulled the sword out of the kids hand and treated his wounds to stop the bleeding.


    Wiji Cheon had poured all his inner qi into his final attack, aiming for mutual destruction.


    Luckily, I was familiar with all of his techniques, or I would be crossing the Sanzu River1 right now.


    Stupid brat.


    BONK!


    I smacked Wiji Cheon on the head with my sword sheath, then strapped it back to my waist. After making sure that there was no immediate danger to his life, I carried him back to the straw hut,id him down on the bed, and stripped off his ragged clothes, revealing a body so thin and malnourished that I couldnt believe it belonged to a martial artist.


    However, all of his major meridians were ruptured, resulting in internal bleeding.


    <em>Fuck, the Qi Deviation is quite severe.</em>


    Suddenly, I noticed a book stuffed inside the boys clothes.


    This is


    This is a non-profit trantion. There are no ads.


    There was no title on the outside of the book, but as soon as I nced at the first page, I knew it was the manual for the fake Unlimited Sword that I had made to fool the Blood Cult. At the same time, I remembered what the ck-cloaked man had said when he handed the manual to the boy.


    Do you want to take revenge on the world? Then learn this martial art. If you practice it for ten years, I assure you that you will be the strongest in the world.


    When I thought about it again, I realized something very wrong about that statement. <em>Ten years? If one learns from this fake manual, theyll die from Qi Deviation within five years. Did that ck-cloaked man not know that, or did he hand it to Wiji Cheon knowing exactly what would happen? If he did, then he must be a very evil man.</em>


    <em>However, I understand his intentions. Wiji Cheon is the ideal guinea pig to perfect an iplete martial art</em>


    Very asionally, a genius wouldplete an iplete martial art on their own. The ck-cloaked man had probably seen that possibility in Wiji Cheon and given this iplete martial art to him.


    After that, he would often visit, observe from afar, and then leave again, just like an experiment.


    <em>I wonder if something simr is happening elsewhere?</em> As I thought about the seeds of destruction I had sown, I felt a little guilty.


    I looked down at the innocent-looking boys face and muttered, Youve mastered this much on your own, without a teacher.


    The Unlimited Sword was a profound and esoteric martial art. Moreover, this manual was an extremely borate fake. Unless he was a genius on par with the Sword Saint, it was impossible to realize where he had gone wrong while practicing.


    Still, to be able to aplish this much without dying after practicing a fake martial art for three years, that alone was a testament to Wiji Cheons tremendous talent.


    Why arent you reading this at ?


    Suddenly, I thought back to Hyonwon Kang, whom I had met at the Azure Dragon Academy Festival.


    <em>Wiji Cheon is just as talented as that kid, no, maybe even better. Hes a raw diamond that would shine brightly if someone were to polish it.</em>


    I stretched out my hands, cing my left hand on Wiji Cheons stomach and my right hand on his forehead. Then, I gently pushed the energy of the Heaven Defying Divine Art into Wiji Cheons body.


    Mmph


    Wiji Cheon squirmed and groaned in pain, but I held him down firmly and continued to probe inside his insides with my qi.


    <em>The contaminated qi from Qi Deviation has spread throughout his entire body, including his brain.</em>


    As the culprit who had made that fake Unlimited Sword manual, I could easily tell what kind of condition Wiji Cheon was in.


    <em>At this level of contamination there might still be a chance of curing him.</em>


    TAP TAP TAP!


    I quickly poked a few of Wiji Cheons acupuncture points, then increased the intensity of the Heaven Defying Divine Art. The stream of inner qi I sent out traveled around his body, gathered the contaminated qi, and slowly began guiding the contaminated qi into his  wees you.


    Mmph! Wiji Cheon broke out in a cold sweat and shivered as chills ran down his spine. Blood began to trickle from his nose.


    <em>Youd better endure this, its your only chance of survival!</em>


    The contaminated qi in Wiji Cheons body was the umtion of three years of incorrect cultivation, and had already seeped into his bone marrow, causing him to go insane. In order to cure him, I needed to absorb all of the contaminated qi into my body using the Heaven Defying Divine Art.


    <em>I guess there are times when even the Heavenly Yin Blocked Meridians cane in useful.</em>


    The Heaven Defying Divine Art required me to gather the contaminated qi within my body and condense it into a qi center, much like how a spirit beast creates an inner pill. To do that, I needed to borrow the power of many powerful elixirs, and right now, there was still some of the Seven Stem Nine Leaf Grasss medicinal power within my body that I hadnt yet fully absorbed.


    Ahh, Ugh, Uwargh! Blood flowed out from Wiji Cheons nose, ears, and eyes. The blood vessels all over his scrawny body popped out like they were about to burst, and he started foaming at the mouth.


    Even then, I couldnt afford to be gentle with him and continued using the Heaven Defying Divine Art to clean every inch of his body, starting with the legs and slowing sweeping toward his brain.


    Hoo I took a deep breath and sat cross-legged on the floor. Absorbing Wiji Cheons contaminated qi was much easier than Id thought.


    This is a free trantion. You should not be seeing ads.


    <em>Not to brag, but this body has endured contaminated qi for almost thirty years thanks to the Heavenly Yin Blocked Meridians, after all. Compared to that, the contaminated qi of a child who has only umted it for three years is nothing Hmm?</em>


    Suddenly, I panicked as the two different types of contaminated qi collected in my qi center intertwined and fused together, and my qi center started to expand.


    Luckily, it wasnt a bad thing. My Heaven Defying Divine Art, which had been stuck at Two Stars, finally broke through to Three Stars.


    I sat in shock for a while, dumbfounded by this unexpected benefit. Then, I slowly opened my eyes and muttered, I never imagined that I could ever get so lucky.


    I mbered to my feet and looked down at Wiji Cheon, who was still unconscious.


    He was covered in blood and looked like a corpse, but his breathing had stabilized and his expression was rxed.


    Looks like the worst is over. I wiped the blood off the brats face and body with his own clothes.


    If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.


    Just then, I heard Wiji Yeols shouting urgently, Cheon! Cheon! Argh, where the hell have those two gone?


    I walked out of the cave to greet him, and Wiji Yeol immediately osted me, Whats going on? Wheres my grandson? Why were you inside his house?


    I didnt know how to exin what had happened, but I decided to report the results of his request first. Sir, Im sorry, but I failed your request.


    Oh Finally noticing the mess I was in, Wiji Yeol let out a long sigh.


    Well, my injuries were pretty minor, but I probably didnt look okay to others, since I was covered in tears, cuts, and stab wounds.


    Did you fail and run away? Well, I suppose youre lucky to have survived at all But where is my grandson? Wiji Yeol asked, looking around anxiously. He had requested me to to kill his grandson, but the boy was nowhere to be seen.


    I hope he hasnt gone outside the formations, because if he has, something terrible will happen he mumbled.


    Hes sleeping.


    What? Wiji Yeol stared at me, stupefied.


    I kindly pointed to the straw hut behind me and exined, What nonsense are you spouting? Ever since that child lost his mind, he hasnt left his parents graves.


    If you dont believe me, go inside and take a look for yourself.


    Wiji Yeol didnt seem to believe me, but he went inside the hut as if in a stupor. There, he was greeted by his grandsons soundly sleeping face.


    Y arent you reading this at ?


    Ch-Cheon?


    Although the boy was bandaged all over and horrifying pale from the blood he had lost during my treatment procedure, he appeared to be at peace, with no trace of the madness that had afflicted him.


    Wiji Yeols worried expression gradually morphed into shock. N-No way C-Can it be?


    Yeah.


    How


    I didnt have to kill him. Now that Ive drained the contaminated qi from his body and brain, it shouldnt be long before he returns to his senses.


    R-Really? The old man looked at me in disbelief.


    I responded with a gentle smile. Unfortunately, hell lose a good portion of his inner qi, but hell definitely regain his sanity.


    That kind of side effect is trivial! How on earth am I supposed to repay this favor


    Suddenly, Wiji Cheon slowly opened his eyes, looked up at his grandfather with a drowsy face, and muttered, Grandpa?


    Why arent you reading this at ?


    Unlike before, his voice was polite, and his eyes gleamed with innocence rather than malice. However, when he saw me, he was startled and immediately tried to scramble to his feet.


    Wiji Yeol quickly stepped forward and supported his beloved grandson. Ch-Cheon, youre awake?


    Why am I here? Who is he?


    Dont you remember anything?


    Uhh, I remember practicing a certain sword technique, and then my mind started to get hazy Wiji Cheon shivered and his mind spun. He unconsciously leaned towards his grandfather and whispered, Grandpa, I-I think I had a nightmare


    The old man hugged his grandson, who had gotten thinner over the years, tightly and wept, Ooh..ughsniff


    Wiji Yeol, who I first thought was a man as solid and sturdy as a rock, broke down in tears.


    I watched the two of them for a moment, then quietly walked out of the hut.


    THUD!


    Wiji Yeol kneeled down before me and loudly dered, Savior, I will grant you anything you want. Even if it costs me my life!


    Why arent you reading this at ?


    G-Grandfather! Beside him, Wiji Cheon gave me a pitiful, pleading look.


    I was tempted to tease him, but I was worried that he might actually take me seriously and hurt himself, so I answered him tactfully, I dont need your life. I just need you to make me a sword.


    I will do my best and use every technique that I know of. I will surely make you a sword that will satisfy you


    I dont want just any sword, I interrupted. I want a sword as good as the Blood Demon Sword.


    T-Thats Wiji Yeol was speechless. If I wasnt his grandsons benefactor, he would have thrown something at me right away.


    Fortunately, he was a gracious old man who repaid his debts, so he only bowed his head and sighed, Im sorry, sir, but the Blood Demon Sword is not something that can be made. First of all, I cant even get the materials


    Would you be able to do it if you had this? I took out the Meteor Iron that I kept in my chest pocket and showed it to him.


    Wiji Yeols eyes widened in shock as he stared nkly at the Meteor Iron.


    M-M-M-Meteor Iron! he stammered as he took the piece of metal from me with trembling hands.


    I wasnt surprised at his response. For an ironworker, Meteor Iron was a treasure even greater than the Shaolin Great Elixir or Sky Blue Stone Extract.2


    With a serious tone, I asked, Can you make me a sword even better than the Blood Demon Sword?


    Instantly, the proud craftsmans eyes became as hot as a furnace. Would you believe me if I told you that the sword you want is also my lifelong goal?


    You ought to read this at .


    These words were more trustworthy than any oath of gratitude.


    However, Wiji Yeols expression quickly darkened as he added, Theres just one problem. In order to work with Meteor Iron, I need a proper forge. Only arge smithy in a big city would have something like that


    Wiji Yeol proceeded to exin the facilities he needed to work with Meteor Iron and why he couldnt do it right away.


    After listening for a while, I said, Hmm, if thats all you need, then I have good news for you.


    Good news?


    I happen to have recently inherited a smithy from Old Man Heo.


    <em>And I also have a constable friend who can forge identity ques for these two.</em>


    If you have nowhere else to go, why dont the two of youe with me? I offered.


    That night, I hit the road with an old cksmith whod been a fugitive for years and a boy who needed a proper teacher.<hr><ol><li role="doc-endnote">


    Sanzu River: The Korean/Japanese version of the River Styx.</li><li role="doc-endnote">


    Shaolin Great Elixir or Sky Blue Stone Extract: Shaolin Great Elixir aka Dahuandan, a miracle panaceamonly seen in murim and cultivation novels. Sky Blue Stone Extract is also a fantasy miracle elixir made of dissolved rock found by protagonists in caves, usually guarded by some kind of ferocious spirit beast.</li></ol>