Chapter 4: The Path of Flesh and Qi

Three months had passed.

‘Time sure flies.’

During that period, I didn’t only train my internal energy.

I also practiced external martial arts. External training mostly involves channeling energy into the body itself.

Through that, the body itself transforms into something stronger.

The advantage of external training is that you can possess superhuman strength without consuming additional internal energy to reinforce your body.

The absolute pinnacle of external training is the Invincible Vajra Body, said to be strong enough to endure even strong qi attacks.

The problem is that almost no martial artist has achieved the Invincible Vajra Body.

I heard there was someone like that about two hundred years ago, back in the era when the previous Jegal Hyeon lived, but those Chinese tend to exaggerate a lot.

Anyway, for three months, I focused mainly on internal energy training, but after gathering a certain amount of internal energy, I started external training as well.

Because physical health can only be obtained through external training.

To put it in Korean terms, internal energy is the energy source.

You can recharge it, and with it, you can produce various effects in the body.

You can temporarily strengthen your body, amplify your sense of smell, or even launch attacks using that energy.

‘You can shoot something like energy blasts from your hands.’

But that only temporarily boosts the hardware.

It doesn’t restore lost health.

External training, on the other hand, replaces the hardware itself.

Copper is weaker than iron; that’s common sense.

It’s widely known that titanium or tubes are even stronger.

In other words, external training is like transforming copper into titanium. But while training external arts, you can’t accumulate internal energy.

Because the energy you’d normally collect as internal energy is consumed to change your body.

That’s why masters of both internal and external arts are nearly impossible to find in Jianghu.

‘You’re too busy training internal energy alone, so when would you have time for external training?’

“Everyone has the same 24 hours a day.”

“Even if you save time from eating and sleeping, you can’t just train all day.”

“You have to work to make a living!”

“If you belong to a sect, you have to handle various sect affairs. Ultimately, it’s a matter of time.”

“That’s why everyone was obsessed with Shin Gong Jeol Hak.”

Shin Gong Jeol Hak is more efficient than other mediocre martial arts.

Training for one hour yields several times the effect.

Anyway, I became considerably healthier.

At least I’m no longer the one who would catch a cold from just a little chill.

The martial art I trained for that was the So Cheon Seong Yuk Rae Method.

A method for body conditioning from the Jegal Clan.

It’s a grand name meaning “creating a small sky inside the body and borrowing its power to grow stronger.”

‘No matter how grand the name, it’s just burning internal energy.’

You had to send internal energy to fixed meridians while maintaining specific postures.

Moving the body and strengthening it simultaneously—that’s what the Yuk Rae Method was.

Burn internal energy, and transform the body stronger.

It was painful.

‘It’s basically a torture method disguised as martial arts.’

There was no way it was easy to plant energy into every single cell.

If you didn’t move according to the Yuk Rae Method, just pouring internal energy in any way would only cause pain.

Still, I trained steadily. Painful as it was, I thought it was a pain I could endure if it meant becoming stronger.

So, I became quite healthy.

But time’s up.

It’s about time for the master to return.

***

I finished memorizing the Runic Language for homework, so I wouldn’t get scolded, but if I learned two or three more magic spells, I might get praised, right?

‘It’s better to receive expectations than to only cause worry.’

Even if I didn’t get anyone’s expectations, at least I wouldn’t cause concern.

“Let’s see……”

Because of that, I studied magic books whenever I had time.

Charruk—

Inside the open book was a dense array of Runic Language.

It was a magic book given by my master, a book that required mastery of Runic Language to read smoothly.

It contained 12 First-Class magic spells, making it quite expensive. Naturally so.

In Jianghu terms, it’s equivalent to a Martial Arts Secret Manual.

Still, First-Class magic can be purchased if you have the money.

You could say it’s like a third-rate martial arts secret manual bought with money in Jianghu.

“I can only use three magic spells right now……”

The magic spells I could currently use were Magic Missile, Image, and Cantrip.

All three were actually useful.

Magic Missile is similar to the qi wind technique in Jianghu that focuses on the finger, but its power is noticeably weaker.

Magic power condenses and flies like an arrow, and the damage depends on the power.

At my level, it’s like being pierced with a wooden arrow—able to penetrate flesh, but probably not bone.

Image creates illusions, roughly about one meter in size.

It’s mainly used for brief deception, good for hiding.

Cantrip temporarily alters an element with magic power.

It’s said you can even make tasteless food delicious with it.

However, it only lasts for 30 minutes, so it’s useful when camping and eating bad food.

It all feels so trivial. For magic.

But it’s First-Class. It can’t be helped.

‘So, which spell should I practice next?’

As I pondered that, suddenly—

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Hm?”

There was a knocking on the door.

‘It’s still too early for lunch.’

It wasn’t the expected time. The voice calling me sounded urgent.

“Master!”

“Come in.”

I called toward the door, and a maid entered.

She’s a woman who has practically raised me since I was young.

Her name is Dean.

She’s six years older than me and lost her family during the northern monster invasion, after which she joined our household.

When I was six and she was twelve, she became a maid and has taken care of me since.

It was a stroke of luck for her since she had nowhere else to go.

‘Without serving here, there’s little she could do on her own.’

Perhaps because of that, she always prioritized the Count of Ophern family in everything.

Naturally, her loyalty to me was quite high, so she rarely interrupted my affairs.

“What is it?”

“The Second Steward is here. He said it’s your turn today.”

“I see.”

“She came right away, so you should still have time to prepare.”

She delivered her message clearly despite being restless.

From her words, I didn’t even need to ask what it was about.

“I’ll get ready immediately.”

“Yes! Shall I help you?”

“No, I’ll be quick. Just wait a moment.”

I quickly changed clothes and tidied up my magic books.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes!”

Since this is my household, I didn’t need a guide.

But because it was a formal occasion, I brought her along in front of me as I moved.

***

After a short walk, we arrived at the most traditional and elegant gate of the manor.

The Household Head’s Room.

The place where the heads of our family have sat for generations, currently occupied by my father.

“Hmm……”

In the past, standing before this door, I might have tried to calm my pounding heart from nervousness.

At thirteen years old, my father as the Master of the House was more strict than friendly, so I couldn’t help but feel tense.

Now, it was the opposite.

It wasn’t nervousness but rather joy at seeing my father after a long time.

While I was training, my father was busy with affairs in the territory.

I didn’t know the details, but I knew he patrolled the outskirts to protect it.

Seeing him now, I couldn’t help but feel glad.

I nodded.

The knight guarding the door nodded back, understanding my intention.

Clack.

The door to the Household Head’s Room opened.

“Father.”

“You’re here.”

My father, known as the Silent Knight, was waiting inside the room.

The Silent Knight.

A father who is gentle within, but outside is known as the most imposing man.

Though he holds the title of Count and the inherited power, he is known as the hardest man to control because he seeks only to maintain the status quo.

And also—

‘A good father and a born martial artist.’

This soul, whether it was Jegal Hyeon or Kim Seonggeon, was blessed with good families.

There was the father who went back and forth to the family for the bedridden Jegal Hyeon, and Kim Seong-geon’s parents who, despite their poor circumstances, worked hard to care for their family.

My current father is also someone who moves for the sake of the family and his loved ones.

His eyes looking at me were full of kindness. As a child, I had only found him difficult to approach.

Perhaps because of that, he treated me carefully.

“Your face looks much better.”

“Thanks to you, Father.”

“Heh heh. Is that so? It’s surprising to hear you say that.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You’ve become much more reliable.”

Parents are parents.

Even if usually stern, they surely notice changes.

But I had no intention of explaining it.

‘The continuation from my previous life is my secret alone.’

Reincarnation is not something others can easily accept.

“You’re still at a cute age. You know your older brother and sister aren’t exactly affectionate, right?”

“It must be a family trait.”

“I hear kids from other territories cause a lot of trouble and throw tantrums, but this father has never had that experience. I don’t know if it’s a blessing or a curse.”

My father looked at me with genuine regret.

“Ahem……”

Then, as if remembering his duty, he carefully spoke to me.

“You were unwell for some time, so the family’s tradition was postponed. But I heard you’ve gotten healthier lately, so we’ll hold the event we had delayed.”

I listened silently.

“What do you think?”

My worried father asked, looking at me. My answer was already decided.

“Of course. I will do well.”

“Good.”

My straightforward reply made him smile openly, putting aside his worries.