Chapter 9: Seven Minutes in Heavenly Lake (1)

‘What on earth was he thinking!?’

Taehoo thought as he was sent flying.

Heavenly Lake sucked Taehoo in as if he were a lump of lead.

The water was a deep blue, reflecting the sky above. It was a sight so beautiful that it would leave anyone speechless.

But,

“Ugh.”

Taehoo let out a groan as the crushing pressure tightened around his entire body.

‘What is this? What kind of water pressure…!’

It felt as if a perfectly fitted boulder was pressing down on him.

Even though he instinctively held his breath, the pressure made his lungs feel as if they were being punctured.

He hadn’t even gone 30cm into the water.

Yet, Taehoo was being overwhelmed by a sensation one would expect only in the deepest ocean.

[Heavenly Lake… I’m sure this is the water those Constellation bastards use for underwater training.]

Water used for Constellation training? Even in his confusion, Taehoo couldn’t help but be shocked.

‘How can a place like this exist right in the heart of Korea?’

In this day and age, even a single artifact related to a Constellation would spark fierce competition.

If such a place existed in Korea, anyone would be desperate to get their hands on it.

Yet, Namjin had made this place his own secret hideout, monopolizing it.

‘How is that possible?’

The Nam Clan was one of the most prestigious clans in Korea, but on the world stage, there were others with similar authority.

In other words, if a place like this existed, there should have been power struggles over it.

‘But in my memory, nothing like that ever happened.’

Even in his previous life, he had only discovered this place by pure coincidence.

For a brief moment, questions chased one after another in his mind.

Taehoo soon dismissed his doubts.

‘Now’s not the time to worry about that. I need to get out of here first.’

It was hard to believe Chiu had any ulterior motive in his actions.

‘He probably just wants me to experience it myself.’

That was the most likely intention.

So Taehoo hurried his movements. The pressure was growing stronger, and he didn’t know when his body would reach its limit.

Without hesitation, Taehoo pushed through the Heavenly Lake pressing against him and tried to move forward.

He tried to move.

But Taehoo’s body didn’t advance even a centimeter. In fact, he was sinking deeper.

[I told you, this isn’t normal water. Forget common sense. If you don’t, you’ll really die.]

Ba’al’s warning echoed in his mind.

‘So even getting out is part of the training, huh?’

Taehoo reset his mindset.

It seemed Ba’al knew a thing or two about this water.

If so,

‘Tell me how to get out.’

There was no reason not to take advantage of that.

Harsh training meant that even your life could be at stake.

Taehoo knew the meaning of that all too well.

Above all, he had painfully learned that Namjin was the kind of man who wouldn’t hesitate to put him through life-threatening training.

When he was kind, he could be infinitely generous, but when he was indifferent, Namjin was colder than anyone.

[Heavenly Lake is water made entirely of pure Mana.]

‘What?’

Taehoo couldn’t help but be shocked once again.

‘All of this is Mana?’

[That’s right. That’s why it’s called by such a grand name. And if it’s at this level, it explains all the Mana that was spread throughout the mountain. It’s a perfect place for training.]

Ba’al continued, his usual flippant tone gone.

[When you breathe, picture yourself absorbing Mana. The strength of those martial Constellations is half in their visualization. Draw the image.]

Taehoo focused on his breathing.

It was a completely different challenge than breathing on a thin-aired mountain.

Still, knowing even a single breathing technique was better than nothing.

The experience of entering a trance when he first set foot on the mountain helped as a foundation.

‘The flow of Mana… breathing.’

Soon, he felt a sense of ease in his lungs that had been on the verge of collapsing.

[The Mana of Heavenly Lake infuses your body!]

[Mana increases by +1!]

‘What? My stats go up just by breathing?’

Taehoo’s eyes widened as he regained some color in his face.

[That’s right. There’s a reason it’s the Constellation’s training water. Of course, the danger matches that, but for a rookie like you, it’s the perfect place to build your foundation.]

Ba’al added, as if to say, “At least you picked a proper master this time.”

Of course. Who do you think picked him?

Taehoo couldn’t help but feel Ba’al’s tone was rubbing off on him.

[Likewise, think of pushing Mana out as you move your body. It’s simpler than breathing.]

Sure enough, as soon as he began the breathing technique, it became easier to move.

Of course, the pressure remained, making him feel as if he were moving with weights attached all over his body.

‘Still, it’s enough to get out.’

As Taehoo thought that,

[Is it? In any case, you’d better hurry and get out…]

Just as Ba’al tried to warn him,

Taehoo drew the sword Chiu had left for him and swung it.

A trail of red spread through the blue Heavenly Lake.

It happened almost without him noticing.

Taehoo’s reflexes were only possible because he figured there was a reason for the sword being left behind.

However, the creature that approached Taehoo was faster.

The red spreading atop the blue wasn’t from something he’d cut—it was Taehoo’s own blood.

‘Those things again…’

What scratched Taehoo was a living creature. To be precise, a fish.

Its teeth were as sharp as saw blades. If he had to compare, it resembled a piranha.

But,

‘It’s insanely big.’

Compared to the usual piranha, which rarely grows bigger than a palm, this one was almost human-sized.

[Did you really think the Constellations just sit there breathing for training?]

Was his role over? Ba’al’s tone returned to its usual nonchalance.

Yeah, he’d already figured as much.

The fact that his Mana increased just by breathing was only because his level was so low.

‘So this is real training.’

Taehoo glared at the piranha, its teeth clicking after tasting his blood.

Maybe the failed ambush made it wary. A tense standoff followed for a moment.

‘The key is visualization.’

Taehoo pictured the same image on his sword as when he first entered the forest.

[Joint Origin Skill ‘Black and White Aura’ is activated!]

[Heavenly Lake’s Mana infuses you! Mana increases by +1!]

[The pressure of Heavenly Lake tempers your body! Agility increases by +1!]

Both the skill activation and stat increase messages rang out.

Taehoo’s sword was now coated with the familiar black and white Aura.

The piranha charged at him at a terrifying speed.

It was so fast, it looked like everything happened in a single instant.

Taehoo visualized. He recalled the path his sword had taken when he cut the mountain.

The image and the path matched.

In that instant, there was nothing he couldn’t cut.

He even forgot the pain from the torn flesh.

He simply drew a line in the red-stained center of Heavenly Lake.

Along that line was the piranha lunging at Taehoo.

Its gills were sliced clean off. The fish, suddenly unable to breathe, shot up to the surface.

‘This is my chance!’

Taehoo didn’t let it slip by.

He grabbed the tail of the fish as it tried to escape upward.

‘There’s no guarantee there aren’t more piranhas around.’

So Taehoo used the fish heading upward and managed to escape out of the Heavenly Lake.

With a fine trophy in hand.

Namjin and Chiu silently watched the now-calm surface of the water. Just moments ago, Taehoo had been sucked in there.

“How long do you think it’ll take?”

“Shouldn’t we worry about whether he’ll come out alive at all?”

Chiu replied with a chuckle, his earlier seriousness nowhere to be found.

The fact that he had thrown Taehoo in, and his current demeanor, showed this was his true self.

“You tossed him in knowing that?”

“I was curious about the skills of the boy who caught your interest for the first time, my lord.”

“Tch.”

Namjin clicked his tongue briefly. Chiu, ignoring his reaction, continued speaking.

“If he can’t even keep his head straight in there, it’s better for him to die now, don’t you think?”

Namjin gave no response.

“Are you nervous?”

Chiu asked again. Namjin bit his lip lightly.

“He’ll come out alive.”

“With his skills, he won’t come out unscathed. The more he’s hurt, the longer it’ll take him to get out.”

“That’s true.”

“He might even give up as soon as he comes out.”

Chiu offered a harsh assessment of the young master his lord had brought.

Even if he made it out, he’d likely be seriously injured, and at his age, that kind of shock could easily make him give up.

No matter how much grit and guts it took to climb a mountain, facing direct threats to one’s life was a different matter.

“That’s for later. If he gives up, that’s as far as he goes.”

Namjin responded coldly to Chiu’s words.

“You really don’t think he’ll die?”

Chiu asked, seemingly surprised, and Namjin glanced at him from the water’s edge.

“When have I ever contradicted myself?”

“Hmm. I thought I saw you say three different things when you brought us here. Am I mistaken?”

Chiu even made a show of counting on his fingers as if recalling that moment.

“Mm… fine, whatever.”

Chiu chuckled at his lord.

It had already been over a dozen years since Namjin secluded himself. While there was personal growth here, there was none of the tightrope walking from his Hunter days.

There was no need to risk his life anymore.

During that time, Namjin and his six swords were friends and companions.

In other words, for someone like Chiu, there had been plenty of time to become quite comfortable with his lord.

“So, what’s your limit for him?”

In the end, Namjin’s original question was tossed back at him.

His gaze, which had drifted back to the water’s surface, deepened.

He was considering.

How many minutes would be the fair minimum—not favoritism?

And how much time would be enough for his grandson to make it out?

Chiu watched Namjin from the side, finding it all amusing.

Soon, Namjin spoke cautiously.

“Let’s say seven minutes.”

“Then I’ll bet on fifteen minutes.”

Chiu named more than double Namjin’s estimate.

Even if he’d climbed the mountain, he was still just an eleven-year-old kid.

It was only natural not to expect much.

Just as if to prove Chiu right, at the three-minute mark, the center of Heavenly Lake began to turn faintly red.

Neither Namjin nor Chiu thought Taehoo could handle the piranhas of Heavenly Lake.

So if there was blood, they were sure it was Taehoo’s.

“Haha! Looks like I’ll win this time, don’t you think?”

Chiu laughed, clearly delighted to have bested his lord.

Namjin was a perfectionist, while Chiu acted on instinct, so opportunities to best his lord didn’t come often.

Namjin tapped his elbow with his fingers, a habit when he was anxious.

Another minute passed.

Suddenly, bubbles began to rise where Taehoo had entered, and then a much deeper red spread than before.

“No way…”

“Could it be…”

Both of them muttered, hinting at a negative conclusion.

Suddenly, the bubbling intensified, and air bubbles rose rapidly.

Splash!

With a great sound of water,

“What?”

“Is that…?”

With their bewildered voices, Taehoo emerged from the water holding a piranha.

The fish in his grasp thrashed wildly.

Taehoo, looking at the stunned pair, asked brightly,

“How about this guy for dinner? I bet it’s delicious.”

Namjin and Chiu stared at Taehoo in disbelief,

Even Mount Geumgang comes after a meal.

Taehoo was already salivating.