Chapter 100
Joint Meridian Opening (2)
The opening of the third blocked meridian.
It was only possible because master and disciple had synchronized their internal energy and worked as one.
The full support of the Azure Medicine Pavilion had also played a crucial role.
Had Namgung Jun been alone, he would never have accomplished it.
Of course, he might have eventually succeeded someday—but only after a considerable amount of time had passed.
The third blocked meridian, which had stood like a fortress gate and resisted the advance of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art, finally burst open.
Through the newly opened pathway flowed the energies of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art, the Azure King Reaching the World Technique, and the spiritual medicine.
Yet there was no time to celebrate.
The instant the blockage shattered, an overwhelming wave of pain struck his entire body.
He had to fight simply to keep from losing consciousness.
Though he remained seated in meditation, it felt as though his body were being hurled and shaken in every direction.
And that was not all.
KWAAAAAA!
The moment the third blocked meridian opened, the compressed yin-cold energy exploded outward.
It effortlessly pushed aside the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art that had filled his primary meridians and seized control of those pathways itself.
This is serious.
Even through the haze threatening his consciousness, Namgung Jun accurately assessed the situation.
The amount of yin-cold energy that had accumulated within the third blocked meridian was extraordinary.
Even with Lee Se-ha supporting him from behind, suppressing it was difficult.
The Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art was steadily being forced back by the increasingly violent yin-cold energy.
Meanwhile, Lee Se-ha's internal energy desperately protected the major acupoints and prevented the cold energy from spreading further.
While Lee Se-ha held the line, Namgung Jun redirected his blazing yang energy and began gradually eroding the yin-cold energy from the edges.
Even so, it would take time.
The crucial question was whether Lee Se-ha could endure until the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art fully refined and absorbed all the yin-cold energy.
“This is difficult.”
Namgung Jun weighed the time required to refine the energy against the relative strengths of the forces involved.
No answer came easily.
Then suddenly—
Something unexpected happened.
A portion of Lee Se-ha's internal energy, which had been tightly sealing off the meridians, shifted.
A pathway opened.
The yin-cold energy immediately surged through it.
Master?
I'll take some of the yin-cold energy into my own body and disperse it. You focus on refining as much of the rest as possible.
You could suffer severe internal injuries!
Hm. As long as I don't die, that's enough.
Despite Namgung Jun's concern, Lee Se-ha had already put his plan into action.
Part of the yin-cold energy was being redirected exactly as he intended.
The master had willingly accepted a portion of the burden so that his disciple's meridians would not have to bear it all alone.
So this is the yin-cold energy of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.
Even with his eyes closed and his focus entirely devoted to energy circulation, Lee Se-ha could tell.
Frost was gradually forming atop the hand resting on Namgung Jun's Mingmen acupoint.
An overwhelming coldness was pouring from Namgung Jun's entire body.
Lee Se-ha felt his own body slowly stiffening.
His circulation of internal energy was becoming sluggish.
Only someone struck directly by a supreme master of ice arts would normally experience such symptoms.
Now that he was personally enduring its effects, a faint sadness stirred within him.
You've endured something even worse than this all by yourself until now.
Namgung Jun had always been calm.
Steadfast.
Mature beyond his years.
He rarely showed weakness, even in front of his master.
But now Lee Se-ha understood.
His disciple had been enduring unimaginable agony all this time.
The realization filled him with guilt and heartache.
My disciple... you've truly suffered.
Suppressing the emotions rising within him, Lee Se-ha refocused on circulating his internal energy.
The portion of yin-cold energy invading his own meridians would eventually have to be expelled and returned to Namgung Jun so it could be refined into usable internal energy.
To do that, he trapped the energy within the Laogong acupoint in his palm, keeping it under control while preparing to release it at the proper moment.
At the same time, he continuously adjusted the blazing yang energy flowing into Namgung Jun.
Master is bearing part of the burden. I need to finish this as quickly as possible.
Understanding the situation, Namgung Jun concentrated even harder.
He drew out every last bit of internal energy remaining within his dantian and focused entirely on suppressing the yin-cold energy.
The sooner he finished, the lighter Lee Se-ha's burden would become.
Even that did not feel sufficient.
So Namgung Jun boldly activated the Azure King Reaching the World Technique.
Until now it had merely protected the meridians and blocked pathways.
Now it directly collided with the yin-cold energy.
WOOOOONG!
The Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art operated simultaneously by master and disciple.
The Azure King Reaching the World Technique joined the struggle.
The rampaging yin-cold energy found itself blocked from every direction.
Throughout the battle, Lee Se-ha's blazing yang energy had served as a battering ram.
Now it transformed into a fortress wall, sealing off the major acupoints.
With the defensive line established, Namgung Jun carefully manipulated the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art and began steadily devouring the yin-cold energy.
Ordinary internal energy could have done little more than suppress it.
It would never have been able to truly dissolve and absorb it.
But the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art aggressively consumed the yin-cold energy and refined it into pure internal energy.
Part of that purified energy was then absorbed by the Azure King Reaching the World Technique, causing it to grow stronger.
Block.
Consume.
Absorb.
Again and again.
Across countless battlefields unfolding simultaneously throughout his meridians, Namgung Jun executed entirely different forms of energy manipulation at once.
Without the memories of having once stood in the realm of absolute mastery, such control would have been impossible.
Gradually, the momentum of the yin-cold energy began to weaken.
By then, Namgung Jun had become almost obsessed with controlling his internal energy.
His determination to reduce his master's burden and end the ordeal as quickly as possible infused every movement with powerful intent.
Perhaps because that determination had seeped into the technique itself, even the Azure King Reaching the World Technique—which had previously felt somewhat sluggish—began moving with newfound agility.
My mastery of the Azure King Reaching the World Technique is increasing.
Even amid the countless streams of internal energy he controlled simultaneously, Namgung Jun could clearly feel the change.
Because he had begun practicing it relatively recently, the technique's energy reservoir was still small.
Yet after absorbing the purified internal energy born from the fusion of blazing yang energy and yin-cold energy, it raced through its circulation routes and rapidly expanded.
KWAAAAAA!
But the berserk yin-cold energy of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians remained terrifying.
The cold aura leaking from Namgung Jun's body grew denser and denser until frost began forming openly around him.
Even if one combined all the yin-cold energy that had leaked during the first and second meridian openings, it would not compare to what was emerging now.
This really isn't easy. Relentless and stubborn to the very end.
Beads of sweat formed on Lee Se-ha's forehead—
Only to freeze solid moments later.
Although the master and disciple had successfully opened the third blocked meridian, they still had to fight against the endless flood of frigid energy pouring from the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.
Three days passed in this struggle.
Then—
PAANG!
A dull explosion echoed from the center of the two cultivators as they continued regulating their internal energy.
It was the sound of blazing heat finally driving away the cold energy of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.
The appearances of the master and disciple, who had nearly become frozen statues, began to change.
Thick steam rose around them.
The ice rapidly melted away.
“Hoo...”
As Namgung Jun opened his eyes, Lee Se-ha followed shortly afterward and steadied his breathing.
“Jun. Are you all right?”
“Master, you pushed yourself too far.”
“For my disciple? This much is nothing.”
Namgung Jun could only smile bitterly.
He had not missed the disruption in Lee Se-ha's qi circulation.
It appeared his master had suffered internal injuries while absorbing such a large quantity of yin-cold energy into his own body.
“A worthwhile experience, though. It gave me motivation to raise my mastery of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art even further. Apparently reaching Great Mastery still isn't enough. The yin-cold energy of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians was even more vicious than I imagined.”
“I think you should focus on treating your injuries first.”
Listening nearby, the Azure Medicine Pavilion Lord immediately checked Lee Se-ha's pulse.
“Hmm. The injuries aren't especially deep, but you definitely need time to recover. It seems Heavenly Sword Hall Master took part of the burden upon himself.”
Hearing those words, Namgung Jun's expression darkened.
“Master...”
“It's fine, my disciple. The next opening will be easier. We have today's experience, and both of us will become stronger.”
Namgung Jun nodded.
“Of course.”
***
The moment Lee Se-ha returned to Heavenly Sword Hall, he collapsed into bed.
After being drenched in the yin-cold energy of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians, it was unavoidable.
The fact that he had not suffered life-threatening internal injuries was already a blessing.
As though struck by a severe fever, Lee Se-ha burned with intense heat.
The medicinal decoctions from the Azure Medicine Pavilion helped somewhat, but it was clear his condition would persist for a while.
“Ugh... it's so cold.”
Lee Se-ha hugged a thick blanket tightly.
“It really has been a long time since I've been this sick.”
“Even a martial artist of your level cannot completely avoid such things.”
Namgung Jun gently blew on a spoonful of porridge before bringing it toward his master's mouth.
“Still, I'm being spoiled. Having you take care of me like this, Jun.”
Namgung Jun did not feel good about it.
It felt as though Lee Se-ha had taken upon himself suffering that should have belonged to Namgung Jun alone.
“Master. Please don't do that again next time.”
“Hmmm. We'll see.”
Lee Se-ha opened his mouth like a baby bird.
As if demanding the next spoonful immediately.
Namgung Jun chuckled and brought the spoon forward.
The moment Lee Se-ha leaned in, Namgung Jun tried to pull the spoon away.
But Lee Se-ha was faster.
“Not a chance! You're still too inexperienced.”
“I let you have that one. I simply didn't expect you to move so desperately, Master.”
Lee Se-ha chewed the porridge and looked at him.
“This is nice.”
“You need to recover quickly.”
“All right.”
Master and disciple continued chatting quietly.
Listening to Namgung Jun's stories, Lee Se-ha gradually drifted off to sleep.
“Mukju! A letter has arrived from Sword Lord!”
“Sword Lord? Why would he contact us suddenly? Has something happened?”
Yun Gyeongjong immediately rose and accepted the letter.
It was extremely rare for the Sword Lord to send word first.
That would have been unusual even without considering that he was currently in secluded cultivation.
“Mukju.”
Inside the Ink Fragrance Division.
Kang Mong hurried into the Mukju's office carrying the letter.
Yun Gyeongjong rapidly read its contents, his expression growing increasingly complicated.
“Tch. I wondered why he suddenly sent a letter.”
Clicking his tongue, he shook his head and sat back down.
“Has something happened?”
“No. He's requesting that a certain spiritual medicine be sent to him immediately. Judging by the letter, he's doing well enough.”
Kang Mong, who had been standing there tensely, finally released a sigh of relief.
The Sword Lord of the Heavenly Sword was the symbol of the Changcheon Society's military might.
Naturally, any news concerning him was enough to make people nervous.
“We should send someone immediately. We can also use the opportunity to check on his condition.”
Yun Gyeongjong turned toward a large map.
Dozens of wooden markers stood atop it.
They represented the locations of the Ten Halls of the Changcheon Society.
“Every hall except Heavenly Sword Hall is currently away on missions. Heavenly Sword Hall Master is also recovering from internal injuries.”
The task itself was simple—delivering a spiritual medicine.
But it could not be entrusted to just anyone.
The recipient was none other than the Heavenly Sword Lord, leader of the Sword Fragrance Division.
Moreover, if possible, they wanted someone capable of assessing the Sword Lord's condition rather than merely delivering the medicine.
At the moment, no Hall Master was available.
Yet Yun Gyeongjong quickly thought of someone else.
“There may be no Hall Master available, but there is someone comparable to one.”
Kang Mong's eyes widened as he arrived at the same conclusion.
“Surely not...”
“For now, let's entrust it to Namgung Jun.”
At Yun Gyeongjong's words, Kang Mong nodded.
“I'll deliver the mission order to Heavenly Sword Hall immediately.”
Less than half a day later, Namgung Jun received and reviewed the mission dispatched by the Ink Fragrance Division.