Chapter 13: Oh, I’m done.

“Seoran wants to start! Stop fighting!”

Baek Yeon’s outburst made both of them flush slightly and step back with awkward coughs.

At least they seemed embarrassed about bickering so childishly in front of kids, which was a relief.

‘…If you know it’s embarrassing, don’t do it.’

Anyway.

Thanks to that, the situation calmed down, and we finally made progress.

Sitting on the floor, I looked up at Song Hwa.

After a cough, she continued her explanation.

“…Ahem. Everything starts with building a solid, unshakable foundation. Martial arts are no different. So… what do you think is the foundation of martial arts?”

“Inner energy cultivation, right?”

I’ve read enough martial arts novels to know that much!

Song Hwa nodded, satisfied with my answer.

“Correct. The cultivation method you’ll learn starting today is the Baekhon Heart Method.”

Baekhon Heart Method, huh.

I’d never heard of it, but martial arts novels often feature unique techniques beyond the mainstream ones like Shaolin’s Hundred Steps Divine Fist or Huashan’s Plum Blossom Swordsmanship.

In this situation, it’s better to keep my mouth shut than to pretend I know something.

“Especially, our Baek Clan’s heart method is like fertile soil.”

See? She explains it if I stay quiet.

“It’s not a method that leads to a single path but a fundamental, core technique that greatly aids in mastering any martial art in existence.”

A light smile played on her lips as she spoke.

“It’s the pride and symbol of our Baek Clan, so you can consider it an honor to learn it.”

After her pride-filled explanation, Song Hwa adjusted my posture, guiding me into a cross-legged position.

“Straighten your back a bit more… Yes, like that. Good job.”

She lightly tapped my lower abdomen.

“This is where your dantian is. A heart method involves refining the natural energy around you and drawing it into your dantian…”

She trailed off, smiling playfully.

“But you won’t be able to do it right away. Sensing external energy isn’t easy.”

“How long does it usually take?”

“Well, if you start feeling the flow of energy in about two months, that’s pretty fast.”

“Hm…”

“For reference, I started feeling it in a week.”

A week?

She said two months is fast, yet she felt it in a week… She’s clearly a genius herself.

Well, that’s probably why she became a Baek Clan warrior.

As I marveled, the cross-dressing young master, who’d been quiet since Baek Yeon’s scolding, raised her hand.

“I felt it in three days.”

“…No one asked, Young Master.”

Song Hwa shut her down with a curt “not asked, not curious” remark.

Honestly, they both looked a bit pathetic, but it sparked a question in my mind.

‘Now that I think about it, what’s their martial level?’

It’s rude to ask a warrior’s level unless they volunteer it, so I couldn’t ask…

But one’s the Baek Clan’s greatest prodigy, and the other’s a warrior directly under the Young Master.

I could vaguely tell neither was ordinary, and I was curious about their true skill.

Of course, my guts aren’t big enough to ask outright!

As I’ve said, a servant’s virtue is… (you know the rest).

Following Song Hwa’s instructions, I slowly closed my eyes and focused.

“How well you master this heart method will determine your talent.”

“…”

“But don’t rush. Haste ruins everything.”

I etched her advice into my heart, breathing in and out repeatedly.

“…”

As I did, everything grew quiet, as if nothing existed in the world but me.

With this mystical sensation I’d never felt before, my mind was drawn deeper.

‘…It’s calming.’

Is this why people meditate?

I used to think meditation was some cult nonsense, but now I felt a bit regretful for dismissing it.

It was like floating with clouds, a warm, comforting feeling.

The addictive sweetness made time slip away unnoticed.

But.

‘…Huh?’

Wait, what’s this?

‘Something… I can feel it?’

At some point, I noticed something strange.

With each exhale and inhale, something was slowly invading my body through my breath.

At first, it felt good.

My body felt energized, my chest elated.

But that feeling didn’t last.

“…Huff.”

I gasped.

The sensation invading my body was becoming hard to handle.

Yet, I couldn’t stop breathing, and the strange energy kept filling me.

…Beep!

My focus broke, and external noises hit my ears again.

I couldn’t hold on and opened my eyes.

“…Cough! Hack!”

A cough burst out, and I reflexively covered my mouth.

‘W-Wait.’

The thick, guttural cough didn’t sound like mine.

My palm was stained with dark red liquid.

…This is blood?

Trickle.

As I realized it, a warm sensation ran down my nose.

That’s when I knew.

‘Oh. I’m screwed.’

I was totally screwed.

…Damn it.

Thud!

“Ran! Ran!”

Song Hwa rushed to the collapsed Seoran, placing a hand on her chest.

Whoosh!

Her face twisted.

Seoran’s internal energy was running wild.

Not only that, but it was leaking out chaotically.

Her body couldn’t handle the internal energy, causing it to rampage—a phenomenon known in the martial world as qi deviation.

This alone was shocking, but what truly stunned Song Hwa was something else.

‘This… is impossible…’

Seoran’s state meant she’d just absorbed external energy through her breathing.

Was that even possible?

The plan was to have her focus on breathing for a while to get used to the concept of ‘qi.’

They’d estimated two months, maybe more.

They hadn’t even taught her the Baekhon Heart Method’s incantations yet…

But Seoran had sensed qi and drawn it into her body with just breathing, not a proper heart method.

This shouldn’t be possible.

But what’s the point of calling it impossible when it’s already happened?

Biting her lip, Song Hwa placed her hand on Seoran’s back.

‘It’s risky, but…’

She’d never controlled another’s qi, making this dangerous for both her and Seoran… but there wasn’t time to call for help.

As Song Hwa prepared to calm the qi—

“…She doesn’t know how to control qi, so it’s going wild inside her.”

Baek Taehyuk, who’d approached unnoticed, muttered.

She pulled the limp Seoran, leaning against Song Hwa, into her own arms.

“I’ll take care of her. Song Hwa, take Yeon out of the training hall.”

Song Hwa’s face crumpled at Baek Taehyuk’s words.

“I’m better at handling qi than you, so it’s best if I do it.”

“How can I trust you with her?”

Baek Taehyuk gave a bitter smile inwardly at the sharp retort.

This was all because of the reputation she’d built in the clan.

Even if those actions weren’t her true intentions, she’d already been branded an enemy by the Young Master’s faction.

But.

Baek Taehyuk’s true nature wasn’t so cruel as to keep up her act in a situation where a child’s life was at stake.

“I have no intention of letting a kid this small die.”

“…”

“Take Yeon out quickly. If she’s exposed to this qi too long, she’ll be bedridden.”

“!”

At her words, Song Hwa finally turned to Baek Yeon.

Due to her Nine Yin Severed Meridians, Baek Yeon couldn’t practice martial arts, and exposure to unrefined qi would make her yin energy go wild, weakening her body.

“S-Seoran…”

Even now, Baek Yeon was crawling toward them, her legs too weak to stand.

Song Hwa’s duty was to protect Baek Yeon from danger.

Grit!*

“…Please take care of Ran.”

Grinding her teeth, Song Hwa approached Baek Yeon and held her close.

“No! Let go!”

Realizing she was being taken out, Baek Yeon struggled in Song Hwa’s arms.

“I’m going to Seoran! Let go! She’s mine!”

“…”

But Song Hwa, lips sealed, didn’t respond and carried Baek Yeon out of the training hall.

Now alone in the training hall.

“What a strange kid. To end up like this on the first day.”

Baek Taehyuk—no, Baek Taerin—gently stroked Seoran’s sweat-soaked hair, murmuring softly.

Placing a hand on Seoran’s back, she closed her eyes.

“…Hold on as best you can, little one.”

Her voice carried clear concern.