Shuuuuu.
The energy that had been faintly spreading from his entire body was gathered as if being absorbed back into his system.
Namgung Cheon slowly opened his eyes.
For a brief moment, a bright light shone in his pupils.
'This body is finally becoming useful.'
Namgung Cheon let out a low sigh of relief.
A fortnight had passed.
During that time, Namgung Cheon had eaten everything in sight and trained relentlessly, building up his physical strength.
Three days ago, he had begun internal energy training.
Fortunately, Namgung Cheon's natural constitution was not bad.
How could it be, when he had inherited the blood of a mother who, despite being a woman, had earned the title of Cheonhajeillyong (The World's Number One Dragon)?
However, while the soil was good, the environment had been poor.
No matter how fertile the land, if the environment for a sprout to grow is harsh, it is difficult for it to mature and bear fruit.
The brand of being the "son of the Great Killing Star" must have been too harsh an environment for a young child to endure.
'Even so, to make such a foolish choice. Tsk.'
A sigh escaped him.
He was blaming his son, but it was, in fact, a sigh of self-reproach.
What right did he have to blame and scold his son?
He could only scold his son if he had fulfilled his role as a father.
But he had never been a father.
His son must have fought a lonely battle his entire life.
At an age when he should have been spoiled, playing, and monopolizing everyone's affection, he must have been pointed at by all and inundated with curses.
On top of that, his only mother had contracted Jueyin Syndrome (厥陰證) and died early. How lonely must he have been?
Thinking of it, his heart ached.
'Watch closely. I did nothing for you as a father, but I will show you exactly how to crush this goddamn world... I will show you how I ruthlessly trample those who turned their backs on me and rise!'
Having made a firm resolution, Namgung Cheon rose from his spot.
This was a chance given to him by his wife and son.
He would not fail as he did in his past life.
If it meant he could fight this world and win, he would become more vicious, more despicable.
The reason he was branded as the Great Killing Star of the World and hunted as the public enemy of the Murim in his past life was simple.
Chogyeon Pagongan (First-Sight Art-Breaking Eye).
It was because of that talent, said to appear perhaps once in a thousand years.
The world occasionally produces an individual with an absurd ability.
For example, among musicians, there are those who can grasp a unique pitch in an instant after hearing it only once.
It's the ability called absolute pitch.
It's clearly a rare talent, but compared to the Chogyeon Pagongan coveted by martial artists, it was nothing more than a common trick.
An ability that, just like absolute pitch, allowed one to deconstruct any martial art after seeing it just once!
The Chogyeon Pagongan was divided into three stages.
Ilhaengyeocho (一行如招) - First Practice, As the Form.
Ihaenggagui (二行覺意) - Second Practice, Awaken the Intent.
Samhaengilche (三行一體) - Third Practice, Oneness with the Art.
In other words, see it and perform it once, and you can mimic the technique almost perfectly. Perform it twice, and you awaken to its true intent. A third time, and you can become one with the martial art.
Of course, this was an exaggeration, but it was clear that it was a realm unimaginable for ordinary people.
However, this blessed talent could become a disaster if one was born into an insignificant family.
Think about it.
What martial artist in the world would welcome someone who could deconstruct their techniques on first sight?
They would be terrified that their ultimate techniques would be exposed and their weaknesses revealed.
By now, it should be understandable.
Why the Murim branded Jin Cheonrang as a public enemy and pinned the false title of Great Killing Star on him.
An ability coveted by all martial artists, but a talent that made one the target of all martial artists.
But his naive father had bragged about it to the entire world, and Jin Cheonrang had fought a lonely battle his entire life before dying.
'But it's different now!'
Jin Cheonrang was dead.
Come to think of it, he didn't know if the Chogyeon Pagongan was still intact.
He'd have to grab someone soon and test it.
'This time, I will crush them without fail. Those despicable bastards who move this goddamn world!'
Jin Cheonrang, now adapted to Namgung Cheon's body, circulated his internal energy for one full cycle (Iljucheon).
It wasn't sufficient yet, but a decent amount of internal energy for his age ran refreshing-ly through his blood vessels.
'The Namgung Family's Changgung Daeyeon Shingong (蒼穹大衍神功) is certainly splendid.'
He had heard about the Changgung Daeyeon Shingong in detail from Namgung Seon in his past life. He had even helped her supplement its weaknesses at the time.
Because of this, it wasn't difficult at all to train the internal art in Namgung Cheon's body.
Not just the Mind-Heart Art (Simbeop), but Namgung Seon had had him check all of the Namgung Family's martial arts.
As such, living as Namgung Cheon from now on would be no problem.
After finishing his energy circulation, he was doing push-ups when a voice came from outside the door.
"Gongja-nim, it is Bokseong."
"Heuk, heuk, come in."
A servant who looked to be in his late twenties opened the door and entered.
He was the first person Namgung Cheon had locked eyes with when he woke up.
He had been the one to explain how Namgung Cheon had lived and what his personality was like.
Of course, it was mostly bad news.
That he couldn't get along with people because he was the son of the Great Killing Star and was always an outcast.
What more needed to be said when even the servants, with the exception of Bokseong, avoided him?
If there was any good fortune, it was that Bokseong, at least, seemed to follow Namgung Cheon with sincerity.
"Heuk, heuk, what is it?"
Bokseong stared at Namgung Cheon with a momentarily blank expression.
He had never seen Namgung Cheon so dedicated to anything.
But the Namgung Cheon who had returned from death seemed to have become a completely different person.
He ran up the back mountain every day wearing sandbags, and he never skipped his energy circulation in the morning or evening.
He was literally immersed in training his body all day, save for when he ate and slept.
"Gongja-nim. You're going to collapse again at this rate. How about you do things in moderation?"
"'Moderation' becomes 'half-assed,' and 'half-assed' becomes 'let's just quit.' That's how it works."
"S-still... I'm just worried you'll overdo it and get sick again."
"This body is going to be busy from now on. If you have something to say, spit it out and go."
"Ah, that is... um..."
"Why can't you speak?"
Namgung Cheon finally pushed himself up.
White steam rose from his firm upper body.
'They say people change when they come back from the dead... does their body change too?'
Namgung Cheon's body had never looked as sturdy as it did today.
Bokseong shook off the random thought and asked.
"The evening breeze is nice, how about a light walk?"
"No thanks."
"You haven't gone outside at all since you regained consciousness."
"I think I've been up and down the back mountain about three hundred times. What were you looking at?"
"Th-that's the mountain. You should also see how people are living. Please, how about getting some fresh air?"
"More importantly, let's go to the Family Head's Office. I have something to tell my grandfather..."
"Ah, you can't do that!"
Bokseong quickly held up his hands.
As Namgung Cheon narrowed his eyes at him, Bokseong realized he had overreacted and blushed.
"M-my apologies. It's just, you still need to be careful, so moving about rashly is dangerous... um, so, the night air is still cold, and I thought it would be best to stay quietly in your room..."
"What's wrong with you?"
"Yes? What do you mean?"
"A moment ago, you said I should get some fresh air. Now you're telling me not to move an inch from my room. Which tune do you want me to dance to?"
"Ah, did I say that? Hahaha! It's nothing. I was just worried about you, Gongja-nim, and was speaking without thinking..."
"Bokseong."
"Yes? Yes, Gongja-nim."
"Do you dislike me too? Do you want to keep your distance because I'm the son of the Great Killing Star?"
"What? No, of course not! Why would I...!"
"Then talk. What is the reason for this?"
"Th-that is..."
Bokseong rolled his eyes back and forth with a troubled expression.
Namgung Cheon stood up.
"If you have nothing to say, then to the Family Head's Office..."
"I understand! I'll tell you!"
He should have just done that from the start.
Namgung Cheon crossed his arms and looked at Bokseong.
Bokseong let out a shallow sigh and scratched the back of his head.
"The truth is... there are guests in the Family Head's Office right now."
"Guests? Who?"
"It's the Hwangsan Yun Family."
The Hwangsan Yun Family.
Namgung Cheon recalled the memories he had heard from Bokseong over the past fortnight.
The Hwangsan Yun Family was originally a faction that lagged far behind the Namgung Family in terms of influence and scale.
But recently, as the Namgung Family declined, the Hwangsan Yun Family had grown rapidly as a reflective benefit.
As a result, they were naturally considered the largest family in the vicinity of Hwangsan.
"If a guest has arrived, isn't it proper to go and offer greetings?"
As Namgung Cheon took a large stride, Bokseong blocked him again.
"You can't! Absolutely not!"
"Why?"
"Th-that is... the Young Master from the Yun Family came with them."
"The Young Master?"
"Yes, the Young Master who attended the Yongcheon Academy with you, Gongja-nim."
"So he's an academy colleague?"
"That's right."
Now he roughly grasped the situation.
According to what he'd heard from Bokseong, Namgung Cheon had been bullied and ostracized at the academy.
The reason, of course, was his relation to the Great Killing Star.
And judging by the atmosphere, this "Young Master" from the Hwangsan Yun Family was one of the students who had tormented Namgung Cheon.
"Explain in detail."
Bokseong fidgeted, then let out a long sigh.
It wasn't a story that was good to hear.
But if he didn't speak, his master, who had lost his memories, might make another mistake, so he had no choice but to confess everything.
Bokseong knew more than he'd thought.
He was probably the only person the living Namgung Cheon had opened his heart to.
As he listened to the story, Namgung Cheon's expression grew darker and darker.
The academy "colleagues" had barely even treated his son as a human being.
They tormented him so he couldn't sleep properly for days, and under the pretext of sparring, they would subject him to one-sided beatings.
Not only that, they forced him to eat filth and insects, or dumped them all over his body. It was also common for them to humiliate him by making him imitate an animal in front of women.
It was appalling to hear they even "played" by waterboarding him or searing his flesh with a red-hot poker.
The burn mark on his thigh must have been from that time.
In particular, the youngest son of the Hwangsan Yun Family, Yun Jongseung, rather than defending his compatriot Namgung Cheon, was the one who led the torment.
Truly, it was hard to sit still and listen to the details.
If this was what Bokseong knew, how miserable must Namgung Cheon's life have been, including the things he never spoke of?
Meanwhile, Bokseong, having confessed everything, was anxiously stealing glances at Namgung Cheon.
He had told the truth because he was asked so persistently, but he was now regretting it.
But wasn't it better to warn him by telling him the facts so he would be more careful?
That was why he had tried to get Namgung Cheon to go outside the manor.
Nothing good could come from running into that vicious Yun Jongseung.
But Namgung Cheon's expression was unusual.
He had hoped he would be scared and lay low, but wasn't that a face of pure rage?
Just as he suspected, Namgung Cheon couldn't control the fury boiling up inside him.
'These dog-like bastards dared to torment my son?'
His face flushed red, as if he would breathe fire.
"You're right, I should go get some air."
Bokseong's face instantly brightened.
"A wise decision! You avoid shit because it's dirty, not because you're scared, right? Where should I take you?"
"To the Family Head's Office."
"Understood. Then, to the Family Head's Office... Whaaaat?"
Bokseong shrieked and looked back at Namgung Cheon.
Namgung Cheon's eyes were blazing.
"I need to confirm what that bastard's face looks like... the one who dared to torment my son... no, me."
"Heok! G-Gongja-nim! Please calm down..."
"Don't worry. I'm just going to check his face. I won't cause trouble. I wouldn't kill a guest, would I? What could I do?"
"N-no, that's not what I mean..."
It's because you could be killed, Gongja-nim!
Of course, he swallowed that last thought.
Regardless, Namgung Cheon threw on a long robe (Jangsam) and finished preparing to head to the Family Head's Office.
"Let's go."
"G-Gongja-nim, please don't. Just reconsider one more time..."
"I'm going to see my grandfather. Do I really need to be wary of some bastard like that?"
As Namgung Cheon growled, Bokseong could no longer object and just bowed his head.
Namgung Cheon smiled, a smile tinged with madness.
"If shit is dirty, you shouldn't avoid it, you should clean it up. Or throw it back at the bastard who took the shit. At least, that's my personality."
No. That was not your personality at all.
Bokseong once again swallowed the words that rose to his throat and turned.
He had sensed that Namgung Cheon's eyes had already flipped, and instinctively knew it was useless to try and stop him.
He sighed and opened the door, just about to step out.
"Huh?"
Bokseong froze on the spot.
Namgung Cheon frowned. Through the open door, a large-bodied man was striding in.
Bokseong's legs began to tremble.
The man saw Namgung Cheon and twisted his lips into a sneer.
"Oho, so the rumors were true. You really did revive. You."
He was the youngest son of the Hwangsan Yun Family, Yun Jongseung.
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