Chapter 497 ·Upheaval (1)

Her ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍muscles and joints contorted in various directions. As the meridians throughout her body pulsed and reformed, the turbid Qi that had been blocking them began to flow out through her acupoints.

After ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍watching for a moment, Il-mok turned his head away.

"Looks ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍like things are finally wrapping up out there."

Jin ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Hayeon and Hyeokryeon Seon-ah nodded.

“It ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍seems that way.”

The ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍ambient noise echoing through the city had definitely changed its tune. 

A few minutes ago, it was a bloody symphony of screams and dying groans. Now it was mostly the sound of orders being given and underlings answering.

Every now and then, a squad of soldiers sweeping the streets would jump out of their skin when they spotted Jeong Hyeon floating a few inches off the ground. For regular grunts who didn't know the first thing about high-level martial arts, seeing a human floating in the air would surely freak them out and fascinate them at the same time.

A couple of them were just standing there with their jaw dropped at the sight of a beautiful woman floating in the air like a celestial maiden.

That is, until they accidentally locked eyes with Il-mok.

The color drained from their faces, and they scrambled away as fast as their legs could carry them.

“Eek.”

Getting caught slacking off by the Grand Preceptor himself was not a great career move after all.

After shooing away the onlookers, Il-mok had been standing guard over Jeong Hyeon for a while when the sound of heavy footsteps came toward him.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

He turned his head and found a bloody Dokgo Ryong.

"It seems you went through quite a bit of trouble as well, Grand Marshal."

Dokgo Ryong scowled at his remark. "Hmph. Those damn assassins kept running this way and that, so I didn't get to have any fun at all."

Though he was drenched in blood, none of it was his own. The old man had clearly painted the town red while sprinting from block to block.

“In any case, to enter Transcendence in the middle of all this, she certainly has good luck.”

Il-mok shook his head as Dokgo Ryong stared down at Jeong Hyeon. “Enlightenment isn’t something a person gains through luck alone.”

“Hahaha. You misunderstand my meaning. I’m saying she's lucky she ran into a proper opponent who granted her enlightenment. Every single punk this Grand Marshal ran into tonight was garbage. They didn't help me improve at all!"

Il-mok readily nodded this time, though not because he agreed.

‘As expected, the old man is mad.’

Who the hell calls fighting a life-or-death battle against a terrifying enemy 'lucky'? 

Then Dokgo Ryong’s gaze left Jeong Hyeon and settled on Il-mok. More precisely, on the wounds and bloodstains covering his body.

“Oh! Now that I look, the Grand Preceptor also had quite the good luck too! I have no idea why those assassin cowards only sent the trash mobs to my side of the city."

Il-mok couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.

Whether the old man realized it or not, one of them should have died that night.

If Dokgo Ryong had succeeded in gaining the same enlightenment as Il-mok, Dokgo Ryong would have won.

If not, he would have died.

‘Would that have been better?’

The idle thought flashed through his mind, and he shook it off before answering.

“Indeed. It would have been nice if the Old Man of the Mountain had gone to you instead. A real shame."

“Hahahaha! The Grand Preceptor understands how I feel!”

Unsurprisingly, the sarcasm flew completely over Dokgo Ryong's head.

‘Well, thanks to this mad old man, I was able to focus on helping Miss Jeong. I’ll let it slide this time.’

While Il-mok was thinking that, Dokgo Ryong grinned as if something had just occurred to him.

"Hmm. My blood's still pumping, and I haven't even broken a sweat yet. Since we're all just standing around, how about you and I throw hands for a bit, Grand Preceptor?"

“I need rest because of my injuries. And things are almost settled over here.”

After saying so, Il-mok turned away from Dokgo Ryong and looked ahead.

Jeong Hyeon’s body had already returned to the ground.

The moment her eyes fluttered open, Il-mok offered her a warm smile.

"Congratulations, Miss Jeong. You've achieved Transcendence."

Starting with Il-mok, Jin Hayeon, Hyeokryeon Seon-ah, and even Dokgo Ryong chimed in.

“Congratulations, Miss Jeong.”

“Congratulations.”

“Hahahaha! This is a blessing for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult! Hey, now that you've reached Transcendence, you should spar with me sometime!"

Hit with a sudden barrage of praise from all sides, Jeong Hyeon lowered her head bashfully and smiled. “T-thank you.”

Then she turned around and bowed deeply to Il-mok. “T-thank you for saving me, Grand Preceptor.”

“I only did what needed to be done. Hahaha.”

She was smiling at his words when she noticed something and her face turned ashen.

Keeping her head firmly pointed at the ground, she stammered out a question.

"U-Um, s-sorry to ask, but... c-can I please go inside and r-rest now?"

Maybe the bow had wafted the air up to her nose, or maybe the adrenaline wearing off had finally cleared her senses. Whatever it was, she had just belatedly realized that a horrific stench was wafting from her clothes.

It came from the turbid Qi that had left her body through her acupoints during the Overhaul Body Transformation.

She already found it incredibly difficult to deal with people on a good day, but the thought that she was reeking in front of the man she admired made her dizzy.

Il-mok had no idea how she felt, but he nodded in agreement. “Everyone has worked hard. Go and get some rest.”

Il-mok was fully prepared to stay out and babysit the soldiers doing the cleanup, but Dokgo Ryong chimed in with a rare moment of actual consideration.

"You should go get some sleep too, Grand Preceptor. If you're too injured to throw down with me, you must be in pretty bad shape."

Il-mok wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. “Then I’ll leave the rest to you.”

“Hahahaha. What is there to leave? One need only clear away the bodies.”

After a little more conversation, Il-mok added something that had just come to mind.

"Ah. Please refrain from recklessly charging into the enemy camp with the soldiers just because you feel unsatisfied with tonight's battles."

"...Ahem. I will take it into consideration."

“…”

Il-mok shot the old man a suspicious glare. 

Could he really leave this to that old man?

Just then, he caught sight of Jong-ri Chu in the middle of directing the soldiers.

His command was excellent.

Without missing a single beat, he was rapidly firing commands in half a dozen different languages while perfectly coordinating the Hong Dynasty’s forces at once.

Just listening to him flawlessly switch languages every few seconds was enough to give anyone a migraine.

“Sixth Brother! I’ll leave the cleanup to you and the Grand Marshal!”

Now that a responsible adult was actually in charge, Il-mok turned around and escorted the women back to their quarters.

***

After scrubbing off the blood and tending the wounds, Il-mok let out a long sigh.

“Huuu…”

It was late at night. Every muscle in his body was screaming for a bed, but he couldn't afford to pass out just yet. And it wasn't because the soldiers were making a racket outside, either.

He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.

During his fight with the Old Man of the Mountain, he had gained a crucial enlightenment that would lead him to the next realm.

He needed to grab that feeling again before it faded.

To recover it, he replayed the fight in his mind.

Soon, a thin wave of Qi rippled out from his body alongside his martial intent and willpower.

He remained like that for a long while with his eyes closed.

“Tsk.”

Il-mok clicked his tongue and snapped his eyes open. 

Manipulating his willpower had certainly become easier, but it wasn't anywhere near the degree he had during the fight.

He could no longer feel his surroundings as if they were an extension of his own limbs.

The Realm of Heavenly Communion.

It was a mythical realm that his late Master had spoken of to him.

He had reached the very threshold but couldn’t break through the wall.

He couldn’t tell whether his focus had slipped as the tension eased, or whether he had simply missed the moment.

“Well, it can’t be helped.”

But he couldn’t have left Jeong Hyeon to fall into Qi Deviation while he sat alone sorting through his enlightenment.

It was a shame, but he soon let the regret go.

He might not have broken through the wall tonight, but at least he knew exactly how tall it was now.

As long as he knew the path, climbing the mountain was just a matter of putting one foot in front of the other.

“If I keep training, I’ll cross it eventually.”

Or, he could just try picking another fight to the death with another monster of the same caliber as the Old Man of the Mountain.

After thinking it over for a moment, Il-mok shook his head as if to clear his idle thoughts.

"Yeah, let's play it safe."

Even though he had been reborn as Il-mok and survived countless life-and-death battles, he still found no joy whatsoever in fights where his life hung by a thread.

Perhaps that was a fundamental difference between him and Dokgo Ryong.

***

While Il-mok was still retracing the enlightenment that had slipped away, Jeong Hyeon had thrown away the clothes that reeked of rot and returned to her room after a refreshing bath.

Her body felt so light as if she could fly the moment she willed it.

And it wasn't just because her martial arts had reformed her body.

The torturous sensory overload that had made her life a living hell had vanished.

For the first time ever, every sense in her body was now fully under her control. She could dull or sharpen them as she pleased.

With the noise finally gone, the world felt as warm and peaceful as a sunny spring morning.

Yes.

Just like the moment she had shared with Il-mok in her mindscape.

Just thinking about that moment made a lovesick smile spread across her face.

But the smile instantly disappeared when she remembered how she had reeked of foul impurities in front of him just moments ago.

While she was lost in her own imagination, her facial expressions cycled through a myriad of rapid changes.

Then she felt a strange gaze and found Seon-ah staring at her.

“I-I’m sorry.”

Seon-ah's brow twitched in confusion.

“Is there something to be sorry about?”

“W-well... because I was the only one who achieved Transcendence...?”

The two had worked hard together with the same goal of helping Il-mok, so having pulled ahead on her own made Jeong Hyeon feel a little guilty.

But Seon-ah just looked at her like she was confused by the apology.

"Didn't you get there because you trained harder? Why would you be sorry to me for that?"

Well, she wasn't wrong. 

But Jeong Hyeon was puzzled now.

If that was the case, then why had she been staring at her so intently since earlier?

It was stressing her out.

“T-then why do you keep looking at me like that...?”

Halfway through her sentence, Jeong Hyeon suddenly realized something. 

Seon-ah was definitely staring at her, but they weren't making eye contact. Her eyes were fixated on a spot a few inches below her chin.

The moment she realized, Jeong Hyeon yelped and covered that place with both arms.

Seon-ah muttered with a look of genuine confusion.

“I was told the Overhaul Body Transformation rebuilds the body into the form most suited to martial arts... So why does that place look unchanged? Doesn't that just get in the way when you're fighting?"

She had asked in a businesslike tone, then glanced down at her own body.

She, too, had reached the realm at the threshold of Transcendence.

Like Jeong Hyeon, she could well achieve the transformation with the right catalyst.

So looking at Jeong Hyeon had sparked her curiosity.

Was that area simply unaffected by the process?

Or, if she achieved it herself, would she turn out like that too?

When Seon-ah looked up again, Jeong Hyeon flushed red and fled to her bed.

“I-I don’t know a-anything about it.”

Squeaking out her denial, Jeong Hyeon yanked the blanket over her entire body.

Buried in the dark, her face was burning so hot it could probably boil water. 

Seon-ah’s question had brought back what she had done during the transformation.

Seon-ah’s observation was accurate.

The Overhaul Body Transformation was supposed to rebuild the body into the form best suited to the martial arts she practiced.

That place should obviously have changed as well, but Jeong Hyeon had blocked it with all her might.

Why?

Because right in the middle of her profound martial arts epiphany, a specific memory had popped into her head. 

She suddenly remembered a passage from one of the books she had once read in the Potala Palace.

Men are very interested in that part of a woman’s body.

Given her personality, the odds of her ever actually revealing that place to a man in this lifetime were close to zero.

But because of a certain man’s face that had risen in her mind at that moment, the poor girl just couldn't bring herself to burn that less than a 1% chance.

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