114 - Martial Arts Ain’t That Big of a Deal

## Chapter 114: No Big Deal After All The room was empty. Seo Jun had put his training aside, but Chun Bong evidently hadn't. Seo Jun sat cross-legged in the middle of the room and set down the wooden box. 'First, I'll try it myself...' Chun Bong and Namgoong Sua would consume the Cheonin Pill instead of the Cheonma Pill. Since the foundation of the Cheonma Pill is essentially the Cheonin Pill, the experience shared now could be beneficial when they consume the elixir. There was no need to worry about the supply of the Cheonin Pill. The Cheonin Pill was designed with the intent of mass production, and unless Namgoong's family intended to distribute it to everyone, there wouldn't be a shortage anytime soon. Of course, Namgoong Myung would also get a Cheonin Pill, and perhaps Jang Geuk might get one as well. As for the father-in-law, perhaps it's unnecessary for him? Anyway, that's a matter for later. "Hmm." After organizing his thoughts, Seo Jun picked up the box. As he opened it, a sweet yet sharp aroma tickled his nose. Seo Jun paused to gaze at the metallic luster of the Cheonma Pill before putting it directly into his mouth. Gulp— As soon as it entered his mouth, the Cheonma Pill melted and slipped down his throat. The pill, containing the logic of reversing heaven, spread through every corner of his body, and Seo Jun channeled his inner energy to aid its action. Crack—! Instead of the Cheonma Pill's energy gathering in his dantian to amplify his inner power, it seeped into his body. The internal reverse five-element formation guided his physical form in the opposite direction, causing his body to evolve as he traversed through his martial arts journey, stepping onto a new path. The goal lay somewhere between order and chaos, in a state that could be described as the Nothingness of Being. His inner core centered itself, balancing his body as it reconstructed around the core. Utilizing the mixed primal energy, the aim was to guide his body one step deeper into this primal state. "Phew..." Only the sound of heavy breathing resonated within the room. --- "Mm..." He opened his eyes. Something soft and white came into view. Instinctively, he brought it closer to his mouth. "Munch." "Ahhhh...!" A scream from Chun Bong resounded. As Seo Jun came to his senses, he saw Chun Bong vigorously rubbing his cheek, which bore bite marks. "What are you doing...!" "Wow... I almost ascended." Smacking his lips, he remembered the taste of Chun Bong. Just those cheeks... Seo Jun, resisting his urges, channeled energy throughout his body, burning off the faint impurities that had surfaced. When he clenched his fist, he could feel a peculiar surge of strength. Not to the extent of a demon transformation, but perhaps halfway there, it felt similar. Buoyed by a nearly certain feeling, he intertwined the yin and yang energy between his fingers. Woosh—! The energy from Moon and Sun converged on his fingers. 'It takes a bit of time, but... it's not bad.' Though it required time to form the energy, using another martial arts technique to offset the delay remained a viable option. Seo Jun grinned, feeling he had secured a hidden trump card. "Ah, behold Chun Bong, I am a demon." "I told you to stop with the nonsense! You nearly got us into serious trouble last time." Who was it, the Reverse Head Monk? The monk with long hair. Remembering his face, Seo Jun chuckled. "I've surpassed them now." "Planning to surpass Shaolin?" "That's a bit..." Even suspecting they were overrated, Shaolin was still Shaolin. If their Flowering Stage monks appeared, it would really spell trouble. Suddenly heavy pressure weighed on his head and Seo Jun momentarily lost focus. "Huhu, seems like your skill has improved?" "Mountain Pressure...!" "Do you feel a surge of strength?" "...I feel like I could soar from another place." When Seo Jun scratched his cheek, Chun Bong erupted again. "Aren't you going to clean that up!? What shameless acts are these!" "Shall I gift you with some gold?" "N-no...!" Content under the weight of Mountain Pressure, Chun Bong remarked with a serene expression. "Anyway, it's good to see effective results. Once the sister consumes it and her essence rises, her energy and spirit might quickly follow, possibly reaching the peak soon..." "Exactly." Seo Jun nodded. A semi-official Life and Death Communication Technique. Dubbed as the Life-Death Communication Art. With a final touch, it was nearly ready for immediate use. Soon, the Namgoong family would see the rise of two new ultra-pinnacle masters. "Hey, but what's up with your eyes?" Seo Jun tilted his head at Chun Bong's comment. "My eyes? What about them." "They're red." "Really? Am I tired?" "No, the irises are red." "What?" Seo Jun unsheathed his sword and used its reflection to examine his face. Indeed, his previously dark irises carried a faint red hue. When he looked straight at Namgoong Sua, she blushed slightly, as if deciphering some hidden thoughts. "...It's like a taiji." "Hm?" "Red and blue, yes. Taiji. Hahaha..." Her sly, slit-open eyes revealed a mischievous expression as Namgoong Sua whispered, "Do you want to unite Yin and Yang with me?" "Ekkk...!" Chun Bong, having regained composure, reacted dramatically again. "Sister, get out!" "Oh come on." "How can someone from the Namgoong's direct line be so lacking in moral integrity!?" "But Seo Jun is my husband, isn't he?" "What..." Chun Bong froze. Alongside him, so did Seo Jun. 'Now that I think about it...' It was all pretend, or so they thought. But wasn't it a fact now? "...Husband?" "You bastard!" "Ugh...!" Chun Bong delivered a dropkick. Floored, Seo Jun rolled over. For quite some time after, he took a good beating. --- It seemed Chun Bong and Namgoong Sua's Cheonin Pills would be ready within a few days. Skillfully pacifying the sulking Chun Bong, Seo Jun climbed onto the roof. Night had settled. As Seo Jun gazed up at the night sky, the same inspiration as always surged through his mind. He briefly organized his rather chaotic state of mind, then, lying back, he followed the faint traces of enlightenment, wandering through his thoughts. 'To the Mastery Stage...' Incredibly fast advancement left him teetering on the edge of the ultra-advanced stage. However, many aspects remained unrefined, necessitating the piecing together of the missing fragments. Of course, if one were simply raising their rank without much thought, there wouldn't be a need for such contemplation. However, Seo Jun had a slightly more advanced goal in mind. The state of Transcendence and Extreme Demon are named differently for a reason, despite being similar realms. Although the difference is negligible when mastering orthodox or unorthodox martial arts, the path diverges significantly beyond that point. Orthodox (Jeong), Unorthodox (Ma), and the fringes like Evil (Sa). If he had to choose one, Extreme Demon seemed more straightforward, but was it necessary? The initial reason for creating the Cheonma Pill was to maintain neutrality. Between Transcendence and Extreme Demon lies a unique state. What to name it... 'Creation of Extreme Demon Realm? Does that sound odd?' Pondering, Seo Jun brushed the thought aside. It was too early to worry about a name. Instead, he turned his attention to more immediate matters. Out of this emerged an intriguing idea. Crafting an elixir tailored to his own body led him to wonder, 'What if I developed martial arts meant solely for one person, like the Cheonma Pill?' Currently, only Chun Bong was suitable for that endeavor. Seo Jun knew her body better than she did. Beyond the New Cheongwoon Divine Arts, the Chun Bong Divine Arts...! Giggling to himself, Seo Jun etched the outline of Chun Bong Divine Arts into his mind. With a few stroked inspirations, he was confident that he could finalize it in the near future. "Not bad." Satisfied, Seo Jun got up and hummed a tune as he slipped back into the room. There lay Chun Bong, asleep, sprawled out with the blanket kicked aside. "You darn..." He stealthily approached and gently poked her cheek. "Mmm..." Chun Bong waved her hand before scratching her cheek. Seo Jun grinned and playfully pressed her nose. "Snrk...!" Her nose twitched as she rubbed it with her hand. 'I have the power to lord over Chun Bong...!' After playfully bothering the sleeping Chun Bong, Seo Jun laid down beside her at just the right moment to avoid waking her. "Hehe..." She snuggled into him with a sleepy grin, radiating warmth. Seo Jun closed his eyes. Deep sleep. He drifted into a deep slumber. --- Corpses and blood. Standing atop a mountain of flesh, Seo Jun gazed skyward. A head obstructed his foot. Picking it up, he scrutinized the face—oddly familiar. Some nameless man. Part of the Black Lotus, perhaps? An unfortunate soul he'd killed on the way to Mount Hua. Curious, he sifted through the bodies. Recognizable face. Another familiar face. Yet another known face. His body, having reached the pinnacle, retained faint memories even of those he'd merely passed by. 'I've killed quite a few.' While rummaging through corpses, Seo Jun, now buried amidst them, scratched his head. What kind of dream was this? It wasn't born of guilt, nor had there been any significant events prompting such a dream. With determination, he woke from the dream by activating his consciousness while his eyes remained closed. "Mmm..." It was still night or perhaps dawn; no light penetrated his eyelids. The lingering sensation of blood from the strange dream clung to his nostrils. 'Alas, does it really smell of blood?' Sniffing, Seo Jun realized his nose was distinguishing scents keenly. His acute sense of smell swiftly confirmed that the scent of blood was indeed real. However, within the Namgoong household, the occasional scent of blood wasn't unusual. Warriors often got injured during training, so it wasn't a rare occurrence. As he mindlessly pondered, an epiphany struck him. 'Who would train at this hour?' That didn’t seem plausible. Despite being in a hazy state, the wafting scent of blood felt intrusive. It was almost as if it was coming from right beside him, which was deeply unsettling. The only one next to him was Chun Bong. Could it really be her? Even in his groggy state, his tongue smacked against his will as Seo Jun's eyes snapped open. "Chun Bong!" The smell of blood. Chun Bong. His mind heated up instantly. Seo Jun's eyes glowed red in the darkness as they pierced through to Chun Bong. "Munch..." Her mouth moved as if she were eating something in a dream. Nonetheless, the scent of blood continued to overpower his senses. "Hey, hey! Wake up! Chun Bong! Hey! Geum Hee!" "Huh...!? W-what? Are we under attack!?" "Hey! Are you alright?" "What in the world is going on?!" Held aloft while half asleep, Chun Bong flailed her limbs in bewilderment. Seo Jun quickly scanned her entire body with his eyes. She seemed intact, so why was the smell of blood so strong? Relieved, Seo Jun gently inspected Chun Bong's body. About to react with outrage, Chun Bong hesitated upon seeing Seo Jun's serious expression and hesitantly asked, "What is it...?" "I smell blood." "Blood? From where? My body?" "Yeah." Sniffing, Seo Jun followed the scent of blood. It led him to.... "You...!" "Ahck...!" Seo Jun went flying courtesy of Chun Bong's perfectly aimed roundhouse kick. Quickly curling into a ball, Chun Bong's face turned beet red. In her frazzled state, she fumbled, her eyes even welled up with tears. Covering herself with her arms, she yelled in a panic. "Get out, now!?" "But, this is my room...." "Just leave! Please, just...!" Realizing the situation, Seo Jun scratched his head and exited the room. As his pounding heart steadied, an inexplicable giggle escaped him. Unable to contain himself, Seo Jun poked his head back through the door with a smirking jest. "Red bean rice tomorrow?" "Eeeeeeek...!!" And he took a beating. A seriously hard one.