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I wanted to surpass the limits of a human.

Hearing those words, my face filled with confusion.

It was difficult to grasp what was being said.

“To do that, the first step was to remodel your vessel. That’s the process you’re going through.”

I had already been feeling it.

Gradually, my body was changing. And along with that, my movements were starting to transform.

As the Pejon said, my vessel was undergoing intense changes accompanied by pain.

It was no wonder I referred to it as an artificial transformation of the body.

“After that, the second step is the blending of the heart and the flesh.”

“Blending of the heart and the flesh…?”

“If you’ve prepared your vessel, now you need to fill it entirely with heart technique.”

“That’s…”

I recalled the ‘transcendence’ level that Pejon had mentioned before.

It surely was a realm where martial arts and martial artists became one.

If it was about the blending of heart and flesh, was it different from that?

“If you are pondering the difference with transcendence, there is none.”

“…!”

“Rather, it is something intentionally crafted to be so. It’s just artificially elevated, so its value would undoubtedly be lower.”

So, artificially reaching a higher realm beyond the transformation of the body?

‘How on earth could such martial techniques be created?’

Just hearing it, I could understand why Pejon referred to his martial arts as something made to surpass human limits.

It felt as though it was yearning to touch the realm of the divine through martial arts.

“Reaching a state of no-self can be seen as a double-edged sword, in a sense.”

That made sense.

The state of no-self is just an ultra-concentrated state. The loss of control over the body is undeniable.

Furthermore, the flow of the bet could go haywire, and if I received a botched attack, my blood qi would be all twisted up.

“One, therefore, is more right to see it as such.”

“That means….”

“It means that by entrusting all senses to instinct, it is actually a suitable state for using martial arts. Moreover, if you could fully control those senses at that time, it would be perfect.”

Controlling the state of no-self, which is entrusted to instinct?

That was absurd.

While enlightenment is the best thing for gaining insight.

Why is it called no-self?

It’s a state of forgetting oneself and focusing solely on martial arts, hence it is called no-self.

‘How do you control it in that state?’

I immediately wanted to refute Pejon’s words with rational thought.

But conversely, could it be precisely because it’s Pejon that made it possible?

Moreover, according to Pejon, the sensations I experienced meant they were the aftermath of Tua Pacheonmu.

So there was some credibility to his recent words.

‘…So that sensation means…’

The whole world felt hazy, yet within it, the only clear thing was the extending movements.

The sensation from that moment, flowing in the direction I desired without even intending to.

As a martial artist, it was a considerable thrill.

“Your expression has changed.”

“…!”

“I understand how you feel, but as I’ve said repeatedly, don’t think too hastily. Whether you want it or not, as long as you’ve become my disciple, you will reach that state.”

“Yes….”

Upon my response, Pejon burst into a hearty laugh.

“You once said, if I remember correctly, that you didn’t have much talent in martial arts.”

“…”

“Even back then and now, I can’t quite agree with that statement.”

As he said that, Pejon pointed a hand behind my back.

Following the tip of his finger, I turned my gaze.

I could see the wall I had been madly breaking down while in the state of no-self.

No.

Where a wall should be, there was a large gap letting sunlight shine through.

“Don’t belittle yourself. At least when it comes to my martial arts, you are exceptionally talented.”

Five days.

After being cooped up in a cave, spending the night immersed in training.

In the end, I could complete the assignment Pejon had set for me.

Right after confirming that, I stumbled and collapsed to the ground.

Fatigue surged into my already weary body all at once.

Pejon looked at me, who seemed ready to fall over, and said,

“Congratulations. You can finally learn the first fist now.”

It felt like something significant was being discussed.

However, Pejon’s congratulatory words didn’t quite reach my ears at that moment.

Perhaps it was fatigue, but all I felt was the overwhelming desire to fall down and sleep.

I quietly closed my eyes.

I thought about just resting a bit when suddenly.

Pejon spoke to me.

“It’s about time to go. Can you really collapse like this?”

Upon hearing that, my eyes snapped wide open.

My weary body was immediately awakened as I hurriedly propped myself up.

“…What… what time is it…?”

Thinking about it, I realized I couldn’t afford to be in this state.

Five days had passed, and if it was bright daytime now…

It meant it was the day we were to depart for Sichuan.

I hurriedly asked Pejon, and he tilted his head.

“Let’s see? You could probably just run over there.”

“…Ah.”

At Pejon’s words, I had to close my eyes tightly.

That statement meant.

I had to go in this sweat-drenched and dusty, messy outfit.

When I hurriedly got out of the cave and reached the prearranged location.

Sure enough, everyone was gathered there except for me.

Spying my father from a distance, I hesitated for a moment and then asked Pejon.

– …Thinking back, how did your conversation with father go?

– Hmm?

– You said you met him last time.

– Ah.

Only after hearing my previous question did Pejon finally nod.

– Yes, I met him.

– How did it go?

– What do you mean how? We just met.

– …

Was this really something that could be answered so simply? I looked at Pejon with a bewildered expression, and he pouted his lips to speak to me.

– Don’t worry too much; I received your father’s permission just fine.

– Permission?

– Unlike what you expected, he didn’t seem to mind at all.

– …

At those words, I had to raise an eyebrow. Was my father really okay with me learning Pejon’s martial arts?

– If he had said no, it would have been quite bothersome, so thankfully.

– ‘Bothersome’?

– It would be a bit difficult to handle it by force right now.

– …

My expression crumpled at Pejon’s nonchalant admission that he had tried to handle it by force.

What kind of foolish statement was that….

– Anyway, everything’s settled, so don’t worry and just do your own thing.

– …Understood.

Although I felt somewhat uneasy, since Pejon was saying it was all okay, I decided to let it go for now.

As long as there were no problems, I wouldn’t care too much.

What worried me more than that was.

‘How on earth should I deal with this mess.’

Worrying about my appearance after not having properly taken care of myself was getting to me.

I hadn’t managed to clean myself at all, and I was soaked in sweat, so my condition wasn’t good.

Though I had managed to change clothes after some struggle, the remnants of my previous state were still noticeable.

To be honest, I usually didn’t care much about appearances.

But given the situation, I had to at least look decent.

‘…Damn.’

That pesky state of no-self was the reason I was in such a condition.

Though I could somehow mask the smell using my aura, I couldn’t hide my disheveled appearance.

As I hesitantly approached, the gazes of those who had gathered turned my way.

Among them were several unfamiliar faces.

Both were middle-aged men.

Just as I was trying to figure out whom they might be.

“Sorry for being late.”

Pejon suddenly bowed his head to someone nearby.

It was the middle-aged man on his left; upon receiving Pejon’s greeting, he looked visibly shaken.

‘Ah.’

I grasped it upon seeing that.

That man was the Clan Leader of the Bi Clan.

Had Pejon not introduced himself, it might’ve been a strange reaction.

But knowing his identity, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sympathy for him.

‘What should I say about this?’

Presently, Pejon is the highest figure within the Bi Clan.

Yet here he was, breeding such deception as he pretended to be his son.

That uncle’s feelings must be quite complicated.

‘Then another figure.’

If one was the Clan Leader of the Bi Clan.

Then presumably, the other middle-aged man was the Clan Leader of the Pa Clan.

‘Indeed. He looks just like Paewoocheol.’

This man had a more imposing build than Paewoocheol, creating an even stronger presence.

As the Clan Leader of the Pa Clan, I too had a vague awareness of who he was.

He was a martial artist who ranked among the top masters of the Central Plains, just like my father.

I too lowered my head toward my father as I surveyed the man.

“…Sorry for being late.”

“Right.”

In response, my father simply acknowledged me with a brief comment.

I thought perhaps he had loosened up due to the previous incident, but clearly, his original demeanor hadn’t changed at all.

He merely raised an eyebrow slightly upon observing my state.

It seemed my condition was evident even to him.

Just as I was awkwardly smiling and about to step back.

“Yangcheon.”

“…Yes?”

Lady Mi approached me suddenly and called my name.

“I’ve heard that training can be tough, but this is an important gathering. Your appearance could be a bit more presentable.”

“Sorry…”

Her scolding took me by surprise.

It was almost the first time Lady Mi had chastised me like this.

Strangely enough.

That reprimand didn’t feel too bad.

The moment I uttered my apology, I felt Lady Mi’s fingers gently brush through my hair.

“Your hair has seen better days.”

“Lady Mi… right now, I think my hands are too dirty for you to touch.”

I warned her not to touch me since I was covered in dust, but she casually ignored my concerns as she touched my hair here and there.

It looked as if she was trying to tidy me up a bit.

But given my disheveled state, that would hardly be an easy task.

As she fussed with my hair, Lady Mi continued speaking to me.

“I will send some good medicine through a person, so make sure not to skip it.”

“…Yes? Yes….”

“Certainly the Clan Leader of the Tang Clan will treat you well, but if there are issues, go visit the Baekhwa Sect in Sichuan… and also….”

“…”

What can I say, it felt like she was dragging on a bit.

On the side, I noticed a hint of fatigue starting to appear in my father’s eyes as he listened.

Lady Mi didn’t seem to care about that and continued her speech.

“…Lastly….”

That remark went on for quite a while.

I felt as though it must have been four times since I’d last heard the word ‘lastly.’

“Don’t get hurt.”

“…”

“I won’t mind if you don’t keep what I previously mentioned, but this is something I hope you will adhere to.”

Lady Mi’s words strangely penetrated my heart.

“…Yes.”

Even as I responded, an indescribable feeling forced me to cough lightly.

What kind of feeling should I call this?

I didn’t know.

Just as I barely got away from Lady Mi, Pejon approached me.

“Did everything go well?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Haha, that’s a relief.”

Perhaps because there were so many people around, Pejon had reverted to the tone he had when he played the role of Bi Yi-jin.

It was really as if he were a completely different person, both in accent and expression. How could he do that?

While I stared at Pejon in admiration,

My eyes unintentionally drifted to a figure standing behind him.

The reason I suddenly glanced at the attendant was simple.

Among the attendants who appeared to be waiting on others were several standing around.

“…?”

In the midst of those attendants, I spotted someone my gaze had landed on.

‘What is it?’

A man with freckles covering his cheeks, looking fairly ordinary.

For some reason, as I looked at him, I felt a strange vibration in my right arm.

Why?

What kind of person was this that set off such a feeling, I found myself observing him intently when suddenly.

– You’re quite perceptive.

“…!”

A whisper pierced my ear.

Hearing that voice, I barely managed to suppress an unexpected breath.

The deep-seated killing intent in the voice and the peculiar sensation I felt from my arm.

It was a feeling I had sensed before.

I swallowed nervously as I looked at that attendant.

For good reason.

The identity of this seemingly ordinary attendant was none other than—

– Not bad.

The King of Demons, also known as the ruler of assassins.

 

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