Chapter 407
## Chapter 407. The Reason for the Living (1)
—
Every human is granted a finite reserve of life force. This vital essence is known as *Seon-cheon-ji-gi* (Innate Qi). Within the *Kangho*, drawing upon this inner reservoir served as an unspoken declaration that an individual had encountered a cause far more precious than their very survival.
In my current existence, I had also resolved to ignite my own Innate Qi. My purpose then was to shield the Tae-eul Sect from the combined threats of the Iron Sword Gate and the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. Fortunately, prominent figures of immense status were on hand during those crises to step in and arbitrate. By merely demonstrating my willingness to die, their timely interference allowed me to reap the benefits of such a drastic threat without truly depleting my life force.
Naturally, foolish individuals like Yuk Si-rang or Jwa Dae-gi frequently appeared, recklessly burning their Innate Qi as though it were merely a grand finishing technique. This mirrored how bottom-tier fighters within the Black Way Murim swallowed Blood-Exploding Pills as if they were everyday health supplements. While rare eccentrics occasionally shattered the limits of human rationality, Innate Qi remained a sacred vitality that mortals were meant to leave undisturbed—a primordial force never intended for casual waste.
To put it bluntly, tapping into this power was tantamount to declaring oneself a desperate wretch who had completely discarded their own future prospects. It stood as the final, frantic gamble of the helpless—those stripped of everything who fought tooth and nail to protect a singular, irreplaceable treasure. Because individuals of wealth and status typically avoided reckless mutual destruction in combat, masters who had attained lofty realms and profound cultivations almost never disturbed their Innate Qi or consumed Blood-Exploding Pills.
> *‘That is, unless one is dealing with an absolute lunatic.’*
*Rumble.*
The manifested aura surged violently across Hyeon-yeong’s shoulders. This visual phenomenon clearly demonstrated that his Innate Qi was swelling so intensely that it could no longer be contained within his physical form.
*Thud—*
*Whoosh.*
With a solitary stride forward, multiple spectral copies of his form seemed to materialize across the battlefield, leaving a trail of fading afterimages. The moment a foe managed to perceive his presence, register the danger, and thrust their blade forward, the opportunity had already slipped away.
*Slash, slash, slash, slash.*
His weapon had already severed the space before them. This display existed on an entirely separate plane compared to when Gye Cheol-yeong utilized the Blood-Exploding Pills. That particular adversary had only artificially boosted the volume of his internal reserve and forced open his meridians; he had not truly elevated his martial comprehension or advanced past his existing boundaries.
Conversely, Hyeon-yeong maintained absolute mastery over the raging torrent of force as he engaged, acting as though he had simply reclaimed a long-lost inherent authority. He had undoubtedly attained a higher state of mental enlightenment beforehand, and his material frame was only now adjusting to that standard. Through this process, his Innate Qi granted him the means to fully actualize every hidden truth he had grasped. It was the absolute equivalent of granting a fierce tiger a pair of wings.
“Jin-gong-ja, can you hold on? You are bleeding so……”
“Hold your tongue.”
“……Understood.”
I lacked the luxury to engage in conversation with you, Dam-ak. That absolute monster possessed far too much power. Securing my grip on the Thousand-Silk Thread, I drew a profound breath.
> *‘Relying on sight and reflexes won’t save me.’*
Sifting through the mental archives of my memories, I retrieved every piece of knowledge regarding the techniques of the Wudang Sect. In addition, I visualized every engagement involving Wudang disciples that I had witnessed throughout the warzones of my previous existence. I needed to anticipate their combat patterns and foresee how they transitioned between techniques to formulate a proper countermeasure.
> *‘The sequence of the Five Dragons Coiling the Water naturally transitions into the Blue Dragon Emerging from the Forest, which then concludes with the Downward-Slanting Golden Well.’*
The instant he initiated his stance, I instantly moved to counter his subsequent strike.
*Slice.*
Accompanied by an agonizing sensation, my flesh was deeply gashed. In spite of the injury, I collectedly executed my defensive counter-stance.
*Clang!*
Precisely as anticipated, my opponent unleashed the Blue Dragon Emerging from the Forest, which swiftly chained into the Downward-Slanting Golden Well.
*Clang, clang!*
I caught a momentary flicker of hesitation in his eyes.
*Whish.*
The warrior, who had initially been deploying the Taiji Thirteen Postures, instantly pivoted to the Five-Fingers Soft Sword. His rapid, fluid motions shifted into a style that was simultaneously yielding yet resilient. Consequently, dealing with his onslaught became considerably simpler. In truth, I had encountered far more combatants proficient in the Five-Fingers Soft Sword than individuals who had grasped the Taiji Thirteen Postures. Even though executing defenses prior to the actual strike felt unnatural, the strategy proved highly effective.
*Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!*
His gaze grew increasingly unsettled. This expression suited him vastly better than his usual, flawless alabaster countenance.
“Are you caught off guard?”
As he forced a distance between us, he unleashed the Nine Palaces God-Walking Sword once more. Fresh lacerations immediately marked my flesh. This highlighted my greatest flaw; having been an insignificant weakling in my previous incarnation, my experiences were confined to low-tier skirmishes. Although I understood the foundational principles of the Nine Palaces God-Walking Sword, I lacked practical knowledge of its real-time application. Ultimately, I had to absorb the blows physically to memorize the rhythm on the spot.
*Clang! Rip, clang! Rip, clang! Rip.*
Mercifully, my adaptational tactics bore fruit, evidenced by the dwindling number of strikes landing on me. Though multiple severe gashes had already marred my limbs—deep enough to expose glimpses of pale bone—it did not dismay me. Provided I survived and managed to break away, the potent vitality of the Ten-Thousand-Year Earth Bear would eventually mend all of these lacerations.
“What a profound waste. A man of your undeniable caliber shouldn’t be associated with the Black Way.”
What? Listen to this arrogant fool.
“You absolute bastard, I have never aligned myself with the Black Way!”
Why was he so intent on labeling me an outlaw? Given that he had demonstrated his absolute commitment by igniting his Innate Qi, standard escape tactics would no longer suffice. Left with no alternative, I resorted to the *Pa-gyeok* (Breaking the Rule) form. I pushed the *Man-hae-cheon-ji-geom-gyeol* to its absolute limit, drawing forth the entirety of the ten thousand swords alongside my concentrated sword force.
“This finishes it!”
The immense, heavily compressed shockwave of aura made drawing breath an arduous task. Faced with an overwhelming force (*gang-ryeok*) that defied normal logic, my opponent predictably countered by executing the Taiji Thirteen Postures. My own power raged like an erupting volcano, seeking to consume all, whereas Hyeon-yeong’s energy behaved like a vast river, redirecting and diffusing the impact. A miraculous phenomenon (*i-jeok*) manifested right at the intersection where these diametrically opposed forces crashed together.
*Zap!*
The surrounding air warped under the sheer pressure of the conflicting high-tier powers.
*Crack, shatter.*
*BOOM!*
A cataclysmic detonation erupted, severe enough to shatter one’s hearing, followed instantly by a destructive shockwave and a blinding flash of light. Within that tumultuous environment, both of us single-mindedly targeted the other’s vulnerabilities. Aware that I comprehended the flaws inherent to the Taiji Thirteen Postures, he guarded his positioning with extreme vigilance, while I constantly probed for a single gap to exploit.
The very instant the targeted flaw presented itself, I surged forward to exploit it immediately. Yet,
“Just as I suspected, you are intimately familiar with the vulnerabilities of the Taiji Thirteen Postures.”
Accompanied by a cold, sinister declaration, the swordsman deliberately allowed his body to receive the Red Light Sword.
*Squelch!*
Mirroring my own previous tactics, he took the strike from the Red Light Sword directly into his flesh, clamping his bare fingers around the steel to halt its trajectory. In that split second, a realization hit me.
> *‘Where did his weapon go?’*
Lifting my gaze, the answer manifested. His blade hovered freely in the void above, gathering a volatile, condensed mass of aura. This was undeniably an expression of sublime martial understanding—a direct consequence of burning through his Innate Qi. Faced with this ridiculous development, a low grunt escaped my lips.
“*Eo-geom* (Sword Kinesis)?!”
Though unrefined, the sheer aura emanating from the weapon left no room for doubt. He was replicating the legendary technique of Sword Kinesis, even if his execution remained rudimentary.
> *‘Damn it… you have got to be joking!’*
While Gye Cheol-yeong had only managed to discharge stray sword waves after consuming the Blood-Exploding Pills, Hyeon-yeong had managed to manifest actual Sword Kinesis by dipping into his Innate Qi. Even if it remained highly imperfect due to his lack of true mastery over the domain, it was unmistakably Sword Kinesis.
> *‘This is lethal!’*
Attempting to evade would only seal my doom. Trying to flee while a targeted Sword Kinesis pursued my retreat was completely unfeasible. Consequently, a singular option remained.
“Do you! Take me! For some sort of worthless joke?!”
Channeling every ounce of my cultivated strength, I infused it into the Red Light Sword. A radiant pillar of sword force erupted upward by two whole feet, colliding head-on with the levitating *Eo-geom*.
*BOOM—*
At the instant of impact, the flesh of the palm gripping my hilt split apart, sending a sharp wave of agony through me. The sensation originated in my hand before radiating upward into my forearm, shoulder, torso, and midsection. Though this was not a conventional contest of physical muscle, an overwhelming kinetic pressure rippled across my entire frame. It reached a degree that made me genuinely worry whether Dam-ak, bound firmly to my back, could survive the shockwave.
Yet, monitoring his condition was a luxury I could not afford. Hyeon-yeong, bleeding from his nose as he depleted his remaining Innate Qi right in front of me, had kept his gaze locked directly onto Dam-ak.
*Screeech—*
I channeled the absolute maximum of my internal reserves, totaling five full cycles (*gap-ja*), yet my feet slowly began to slide backward under the strain.
> *‘The issue lies within the purity of the essence, irrespective of the total volume of inner energy.’*
Experiencing the true dread of Innate Qi firsthand, my thoughts raced frantically. What was the solution? How could I break free from his guided Sword Kinesis? When an adversary is fully prepared to sacrifice their existence while I merely fight for self-preservation, victory is impossible. That very dynamic explained why the monsters who perished by my blade in my previous life had failed. Ultimately, I had to put my own survival on the line as well.
> *‘If defense is impossible, death is certain!’*
I extended my arm directly toward the apex of the Sword Kinesis, which radiated a murderous intent.
“Get lost!!!”
My fingertips felt as though they were being incinerated merely by making contact with the lingering aura of the hovering weapon, yet I firmly grasped the blade regardless. At that exact moment, I triggered the *Cheon-ryong-hwan* (Heavenly Dragon Ring).
*Screeech—*
Foreign force surged into my body through my fingertips, though the sensation differed drastically from the norm. Instead of the usual fluid, soothing warmth, the essence drawn from his weapon’s point acted like a cluster of needles stabbing through every meridian. To make matters worse, the rate of absorption failed to reach even a fraction of its typical volume. This made perfect sense, given that the power driving the Sword Kinesis carried the absolute intent and consciousness of its wielder.
But having initiated the process, halting was no longer an option. Bearing an agony that threatened to overwhelm my consciousness, I forced my feet to advance another stride.
“Argh!”
By forcefully accelerating the siphon of power, my backward momentum ground to a halt. Just as confidence bloomed that I could cut him down and make my escape toward Anhui, a loud voice echoed.
“Hyeon-yeong!!”
An older martial artist, clad in garments identical to those of the lunatic burning his Innate Qi, was charging toward our position.
> *‘Damn it…’*
—
Hyeon-yeong found himself entirely stunned. He was well aware that Jin So-un possessed remarkable martial prowess and that his quick-witted adaptability exceeded that of many veteran figures across the *Kangho*. Yet, the reality that he could not immediately crush him—even after detonating his own Innate Qi and deploying his ultimate comprehension—left him profoundly bewildered. Withstanding Sword Kinesis was an entirely separate matter; regardless of its partial execution, overcoming it lay far beyond the reach of standard talents.
Still, that was the ultimate boundary. Having unleashed the Sword Kinesis, there should have been no route of evasion for Jin So-un and Dam-ak. At least, that was his firm belief.
“Get lost!!!”
Jin So-un yelled out a crude expletive that grated on the senses. As he touched the scorching vital force radiating from the floating blade, his already lacerated hand became further disfigured, spilling fresh crimson. Right then, a bizarre phenomenon occurred.
> *‘What in the world…’*
For the first time in his existence, the shock nearly caused him to utter a curse. His own essence was being siphoned away. Though the flow began as a mere trickle, the Innate Qi containing his mental focus was explicitly being drawn out. Much like the physical exhaustion that saps the limbs after overexertion, his power was bleeding off.
> *‘…This defies all logic!’*
He remained utterly clueless as to the nature of this bizarre phenomenon or technique. Nonetheless, the trickling leakage rapidly expanded into a substantial drain. If this persisted, his unperfected Sword Kinesis risked collapsing entirely. Just as panic began to grip his racing heart due to the impending failure, a familiar voice called out.
“Hyeon-yeong!”
Myeong-jin *Sa-suk*, the commander of the Maengho Unit whose arrival he had eagerly anticipated, was sprinting toward them with incredible velocity.
> *‘We have won! The resolution is at hand!’*
Sensing an anomalous disturbance from afar, Myeong-jin had pushed his locomotion techniques to their absolute maximum threshold. Upon arriving, the scene before him filled him with pure dread.
“Hyeon-yeong… what have you done…! Have you truly disturbed your Innate Qi?!”
“*Sa-suk*! Your timing is perfect. Lose no time, that individual—”
“You complete fool!”
“……”
He was well aware of Hyeon-yeong’s rigid, uncompromising temperament, yet he never imagined the youth would do something so entirely self-destructive.
“Regardless of the stakes, to expend your Innate Qi… to throw away your life force!”
“But *Sa-suk*, at this moment, that foe…”
“Be quiet!”
Myeong-jin shifted his focus onto Jin So-un. The young man stood drenched in gore, grasping the active Sword Kinesis directly with his bare flesh while bearing Dam-ak across his back. Though staring directly at this logic-defying spectacle, Myeong-jin’s initial disbelief quickly gave way to a surging fury upon meeting the unyielding, fearless gaze of the adversary.
“…To reduce the circumstances to such a state. Do you honestly believe you will find mercy…”
Myeong-jin blinked in sheer disbelief once more.
> *‘Is that rogue… grinning?’*
Beneath the layer of crusted blood, the young warrior’s mouth curled into an amused smile.
“Go screw… yourselves! You lot will be the ones pleading for your lives. And rest assured, no mercy will be granted.”
*Shring!*
Myeong-jin drew his weapon with lightning speed. Hyeon-yeong had already compromised his vital essence. To ensure the boy’s survival, the elimination of Dam-ak and Jin So-un required immediate resolution. He needed to put down this dangerous renegade without delay…
“Don’t even try it! Take one step closer and see what happens. I will immediately backflow this energy, shattering the mind of the Wudang Sect’s prized prodigy.”
Myeong-jin froze mid-stride against his own volition.
“What did you say?”
“What’s the issue? Are you claiming that losing the Wudang Sect’s hidden trump card on this field matters nothing to you?”
“How could you possibly be aware of…”
The commander instantly regretted his reflexive response, but the confirmation had already slipped past his lips.
“Does that detail matter at this moment? Your priority should be rescuing this lunatic. He appears to be an invaluable asset to Wudang. Unless, of course, you are perfectly content letting him perish right here.”
“*Sa-suk*! Do not waver! This represents our final opportunity to eliminate Dam-ak.”
Ironically, Jin So-un was negotiating to preserve Hyeon-yeong’s existence, whereas Hyeon-yeong was actively pleading for his own demise.
“Evaluate the scenario logically. Hardly a quarter of an hour has elapsed since this madman ignited his Innate Qi. With such a short duration, surely the renowned medical expertise of Wudang can mitigate the permanent damage?”
Jin So-un’s reasoning plunged Myeong-jin into deep, conflicted thoughts.
“……”
The disruption of one’s vital essence traditionally meant a permanent ceiling on a martial artist’s peak potential. Yet, Myeong-jin knew that if it were Hyeon-yeong—this particular prodigy—his natural insight would still vastly outshine his peers even with an impaired cultivation. Beyond that, Hyeon-yeong’s value was far too immense to be squandered so abruptly in a place like this.
“State your conditions.”
“*Sa-suk*!”
“Be silent!”
Myeong-jin snapped aggressively at the youth.
“You have reduced yourself to this miserable condition by recklessly forcing the matter without regarding your own well-being. Do not move!”
“What are you saying! Is Dam-ak not a threat that must be completely eradicated to secure our prospects?!”
“……His significance does not warrant such a sacrifice.”
“How can you say……”
“…….”
Myeong-jin offered no further elaboration. Shifting his attention back to Jin So-un, he demanded,
“Name your terms.”
“The demand is quite simple. Sheathe your weapon and swear an oath upon the honor of Wudang.”
Following a brief calculation, Myeong-jin gave a nod.
“What else?”
“There is no ‘else’. Simply attend to this lunatic and retreat back to Mt. Wudang without delay.”
“……Very well. We shall release our holds on the count of three.”
“Agreed.”
Jin So-un gave his assent. The commander initiated the countdown at once.
“One, two.”
Secretly, Myeong-jin gathered an immense concentration of vital energy into his palms with blinding speed.
“Three!”
Exactly as the final digit left his mouth, he sprang forward to strike Jin So-un down.
“You treacherous bastard, I anticipated your deceit!”
Jin So-un’s blade whipped around in an unorthodox arc, jerking Hyeon-yeong directly into the line of fire. By a mere fraction of a second, the youth was interposed between Jin So-un and the charging commander. Comprehending the trap too late, Myeong-jin frantically attempted to abort his incoming thrust, yet momentum failed him…
“Stop!”
*Bam!*
The concentrated force of his strike slammed squarely into Hyeon-yeong’s torso.
“Urgh!”
In an instant, the glow animating the levitating Sword Kinesis shattered entirely, and Hyeon-yeong expectorated a massive torrent of crimson.
“Hye—Hyeon-yeong!!!”
Horror-stricken, Myeong-jin rushed to catch the collapsing youth. Despite losing a significant amount of blood, Hyeon-yeong’s mind was plunged into an existential stupor.
> *‘Not… a significant figure? If that is true…’*
Then what had been the purpose of his desperate struggle? What value did the lives of his fallen comrades hold? Was their demise expected, while a sacrifice from Wudang was deemed unacceptable?
$$*Consider yourself fortunate. I had every intention of showing you the true meaning of sacrifice.*$$
Jin So-un’s resonant words, which had previously dragged Hyeon-yeong out of his internal darkness, echoed clearly in his thoughts once more. The realization struck his mind with absolute clarity: those words had never been an admonishment for him alone, but rather a condemnation aimed directly at Wudang.
“Hold on, stay with me! Hyeon-yeong!”
Enfolded within Myeong-jin’s grasp as the commander frantically tapped his acupoints to stem the damage, the youth stared blankly into the distance. His fading vision remained fixed on the retreating figure of Jin So-un, who was fleeing at maximum speed while securing Dam-ak upon his person.
> *‘True… sacrifice…’*
He silently murmured those final parting words over and over again.
