---

Chapter 8: The Aftermath of Chaos

Srrr…

It felt like something was entangled in my heart, just as a bandage wraps around an injured arm.

A power that had never mixed before was being forced to intertwine.

The heat of the Technique of the Flame Wheel…

And the pain of Tua Pacheonmu gradually blended together.

Or not. They weren’t mixing.

They were just clashing like water and oil.

“Seuuuu…!”

My breathing grew heavier. Energy stirred within my Lower Dantian.

A tidal wave surged.

It felt like thunder was flashing in the sky.

Quakes shook all around.

Everything barely holding on was breaking apart.

Is it a disaster?

Things that were utterly dizzying were happening inside me.

“Guh…”

Soon, pain followed.

As the energies that couldn’t entangle began to tangle, my body was on the verge of exploding.

It was a perfect rebound.

It could hardly be described as mere friction.

This was a rebellion.

An extreme refusal to intertwine.

“…”

My clenched fist trembled. I was gripping so hard it felt like my bones might break.

“Guh…huh…”

The energy was not flowing gently to my Blood Qi, but violently rebounding.

It felt like my Blood Qi might burst.

If my body hadn’t awakened through detachment, I would have burst long ago.

It had that much compression.

The more I felt it, the more I wondered if I was surrounded by truly insane people.

How could there be such rough individuals?

When they were put together, it felt like they were all trying to kill each other.

The problem was that I was entirely absorbing that rebound.

‘When I think about it.’

I also seemed to be quite the madman.

Here I was, getting myself into this mess, and it was my own doing.

Back when I first tried this, no.

To be precise, when I said I was going to try it. They looked at me like I was crazy.

I already appeared somewhat insane, but this time it felt like a whole new level?

“Have you lost it?”

The normally stern Pejon asked me.

“Do you even know what you’re trying to do right now?”

“I have a rough idea.”

“And yet you still want to do it?”

Pejon spoke as if he couldn’t believe it.

“It’s true that it sounds utterly ridiculous.”

“To think you would try to unite two perfected techniques to create something new. It’s nonsensical unless you want to die.”

You planned to merge the energies contained within your body into one.

That was what I told Pejon I wanted to try.

Hearing that, Pejon spoke half in anger.

“I told you before, if you want to die, just say so. I could accommodate that.”

“You’re being a bit harsh for a master.”

“What am I supposed to do when my disciple suddenly says he wants to commit suicide?”

“Who said anything about dying?”

“That’s no different from saying you want to die.”

Pejon’s tone was unusually serious.

“I know you have a peculiar body.”

“What do you mean by peculiar? It’s just a person…”

“Thanks to that, I also know you can contain multiple techniques and remain intact.”

At that moment, I saw Pejon genuinely angry, his brow furrowed.

“Mixing means something completely different. You foolish disciple. Do you think this is as easy as mixing water and rice?”

“It’s not like that.”

“If it isn’t, then the very thought should be impossible.”

Pejon clenched his fist and showed it to me.

Within that fist, the energy of Tua Pacheonmu was surging.

“Show me your flames.”

I followed his command and ignited flames in my palm.

Flame Burst—!!

Looking at the flames, Pejon said, “The flow of energy naturally differs across techniques.”

“Even now, the differences between Tua Pacheonmu and your flames are clear.”

“The direction and speed of the energy flow are entirely distinct; how can you want to achieve them together?”

“That’s not the same as containing different techniques in your body.”

Pejon had said countless things about not being able to succeed and how it shouldn’t be done.

I knew well he was ultimately trying to persuade me to not make a mistake.

So I listened quietly.

I understood his reasons for speaking that way were rooted in the hope that I wouldn’t go wrong.

After listening for a while…

“Then…”

“Do you remember what you always said to me?”

I cut Pejon off and suddenly asked him.

“What?”

“The words you used to tell me every single day.”

“What words do you mean?”

Every time I trained or fought.

At those times, Pejon’s words reverberated in my mind.

They had become quite important to me now.

“If it doesn’t work, make it work.”

“….”

“Those were always your words.”

“Did I say that to just use it here? You should know that even if you’re a bit dim!”

Pejon seemed not just uncomfortable, but partially angry now.

“Whether it might work or not is uncertain, right?”

“Yes, as you said, it might work. That’s true. But…”

Pejon’s kind eyes turned sharply.

“What arrogance! To reach for both techniques without mastering either is foolishness.”

“….”

I had to briefly silence myself in response to that.

“Do not be mistaken, disciple.”

Pejon strode toward me.

Standing so close, he seemed a whole finger-width shorter than me.

It must’ve been the aftermath of experiencing Rejuvenation Technique.

Yet, for some reason, standing before him, Pejon felt much larger than me.

“I am angered not just because you are doing useless things, but because of your arrogance in seeking another path without completing even one.”

“….”

I had nothing to retort. It was true.

How could someone who hadn’t completed even one attempt at something seek to try another?

To make excuses about lacking time felt too real, making it hard to utter a word.

But…

“If I succeed in just one, are you saying it might be worth trying?”

“…You brat?”

Pejon’s demeanor grew heavier as if he were about to become furious. I was sweating bullets.

“I’m being serious. The only way to know whether I can do it is to try. Like you said, if I manage to succeed in even one, then wouldn’t it be worth a shot?”

It was almost blind stubbornness. Upon hearing that, Pejon seemed to pause his anger, narrowing his eyes as if sensing something strange.

“Why are you so obsessed with this? You’ve already obtained a great deal. What exactly is it that you seek to gain?”

The Technique of the Flame Wheel and Tua Pacheonmu.

A life filled with endless opportunities.

In truth, even what I possessed now was more than enough.

Especially compared to my previous life.

“What drives your impatience? If you keep up this pace, surpassing the current Three Eminent Beings shouldn’t be difficult.”

“….”

Considering the words from one of the Three Eminent Beings was absurd, but it was the first time hearing Pejon say such a thing, which caught me off guard.

If I kept this up, I could surpass even the Three Eminent Beings.

Pejon’s voice held that certainty.

Yeah, I had been mulling it over too.

If I kept this pace, wouldn’t it be possible to surpass the Three Eminent Beings, known as the Heaven’s Superior Three?

While this was something I had contemplated…

“Saying someday is too late.”

I knew when that ‘someday’ was.

It could take years, even ten or dozens of years.

I lacked the time for that.

“Do you not understand? Your impatience and that foolish belief that mixing techniques will yield greater power… how do you see this?”

Pejon said, filled with disbelief.

Just how could anyone have confidence in such a mad idea as mixing techniques?

Pejon was full of questions.

I was the same.

When I first thought of it, I dismissed it as a fleeting thought.

What kind of madman would consider such a thing?

This was clearly something that should’ve been left as a passing remark.

Yet, oddly enough, the thought wouldn’t leave me.

It felt almost compelled.

To try.

“You can do it.”

“If you manage, a new world will unfold.”

As those emotions piled up, I added more to my words for Pejon.

“Then, don’t you think it’s impossible?”

“Naturally…”

“Not just that it’s impossible. If it can be done, it seems likely something interesting would happen.”

“….”

At my words, this time Pejon fell silent.

If I could manage to merge two techniques, what might appear?

Surely, that would be something he would find interesting too.

For such questions, Pejon’s countenance shifted slightly.

“…That…”

Pejon’s lips twitched.

The directions of energies.

The frequencies of vibrations within the energy. The meanings each technique held were all distinct yet collided.

What might happen if that succeeded?

If only I could control the friction between the techniques…

And replace the pressure generated therewith power…

“…It would be something incredible.”

Not as Pejon the Master.

But as Pejon the Martial Artist, he had to admit it.

If successful, it truly would yield phenomenal results.

The problem was that it was something no one else could do.

The very idea of containing two distinct techniques was a concern.

But I could manage that.

I was the only one who could attempt it.

Why was my body capable of this, I didn’t know.

Yet if I could utilize it, I would certainly try.

Thus, I made a promise after listening to Pejon.

This wasn’t a promise made with anyone else; it was one I made with myself.

If I were to attempt it, I would achieve at least one technique to great success first.

With that resolution barely congealed, the Technique of the Flame Wheel ultimately reached great success.

“Haaaah—.”

From that point on, I had attempted a few times recently.

Binding the techniques.

Creakkkk—!!!

The rebound erupted loudly.

Merging was possible.

This was in the domain of Sorcery.

Tiny threads creeping in.

These were not threads made from betting but from sorcery.

I would bind them with this.

I realized something about Sorcery.

Sorcery wasn’t merely an area where energy couldn’t shatter.

To break it, one must fulfill special conditions or decipher the subtle rules within.

In other words,

“Complete opposition to energy.”

If that’s the case, then in reverse,

“There’s nothing easier than binding energy to keep it from unraveling than with Sorcery.”

That’s not a certainty.

I was certain I needed sorcery to achieve what I wanted.

But I didn’t quite know how to bind it with Sorcery.

For now, it was simply a gut feeling.

Attempting to bind what I saw.

Therefore, I bound energies of different speeds and rebounds.

Creakkk—!!

The forcibly clustered energy gnashed and coiled around my arm.

Due to the power wrapping around my arm, I trembled violently.

It was an incredible pressure.

Even though I had gathered energies, it felt as though my arm might be crushed.

This feels insane.

“Hoo….”

Feeling that pressure, I slowly released my grip.

Both arms were already shaking like mad.

On one arm, something that looked like flames was entangled.

It was a chaotic mess of colors.

Should I call it a broken flame?

It was different from the Black Flame composed of Demon Energy. But it also wasn’t pure Blue Flame; it was too murky to be that.

Could this coloring be due to Tua Pacheonmu’s influence?

Perhaps.

But there was no time to ascertain that.

“Guh.”

Spitting out a breath, I moved my left arm.

My posture was a mess, and my speed slowed from holding the pressure.

But I did reach out.

My fist slowly cut through the air. Before long, my fist came to a stop.

In that moment.

Thwack!

With a rumble,

Kiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa—-!!!!

The energy screamed.

Aaaaaaaaaah—!!!

My breath stopped.

I felt deafened.

Not just my ears, but my sight, sense of smell, and touch vanished in an instant.

The world faded to black before my eyes.

What on earth was this? It felt like floating in a night sky.

Was losing all senses like this?

It was surreal.

What kind of sensation is this?

Just as I felt as if I would be swept away somewhere…

Whoosh-!

All at once, my senses returned.

Swoosh…

I heard the sound of the wind.

A scent brushed against my nose.

A terrible burning smell.

My distant vision returned. Something that was invisible before was now clear once more.

“…!”

Upon seeing it, my eyes widened.

“…Huh….”

The area around me had turned into chaotic wreckage.

A massive circular hole had been blown through, flames dancing within the breach.

And…

“…Heheh.”

In the center stood Shin Noya.

His martial robe was somewhat tattered.

“…You little brat, you crazy lunatic.”

Holding a sword, he gazed at me with astonishment.

“What on earth have you created?”

 

---